'Education is meant to be free': Parents welcome internet funds for isolated school kids

Last week the Northern Territory Government increased the subsidy given to remote and rural families for their internet costs to $165 a month, up from $55 a month, to better support their children's online learning.

In a statement the NT Government said more than 50 isolated families and their children, who undertake study via distance education, will benefit from the subsidy.

Isolated Children's Parents' Association NT president Sarah Cook said the internet is a vital and costly expense for remote families with children who attend school remotely via distance education and Schools of the Air.

Mrs Cook said these families rely on "online delivery" for their children's education.

She said ICPA NT has been advocating for an increase to the subsidy since 2019, and welcomed the new increase.

"The gap that families are paying is decreasing and accessing education is more affordable."

She said it is a cost families in towns and cities take for granted because it is paid for by the Department of Education.

"Internet is necessary for education, you don't ask urban kids to pay for the internet at school," Mrs Cook said.

"In the bush they go online... if we don't have internet we can't have education."

Mrs Cook said all but one of the families enrolled with Katherine School of the Air rely on the internet subsidy.

Mrs Cook said the subsidy is an interim measure put in place in 2015, when the NT Government started transitioning remote schooling off its STARS satellite network.

A permanent solution is set to be finalised early in 2022 and Mrs Cook said ICPA NT wants to continue working with the Department of Education to provide "feedback and advice" related to the permanent solution.

In a statement, Education Minister Lauren Moss acknowledged the advocacy of ICPA NT and echoed Mrs Cooks calls for further collaboration.

"The NT Isolated Children's Parents' Association has strongly advocated for better and more affordable internet services for isolated students," she said.

"We have listened and acted on their feedback and will continue to work with them and isolated families to further enhance their children's learning through distance education."

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