The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, today called on the Victorian Government to address a concerning decline in Murray Valley’s high school retention rate.

Mr Jasper said new research by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition showed the percentage of students remaining at high school until year 12 in the Hume Region had fallen from 69.6 percent in 2002 to 65.2 per cent in 2009.

The Victorian Government must address this slump in retention rates, not only in Hume Region, but across Victoria, as a matter of urgency, Mr Jasper said.

Our high schools and country students do a magnificent job with the resources they do have, he added, but the number of students dropping out of school has grown by 4.4 per cent in just seven years, whilst university application rates in the Ovens and Murray region are miles behind those of metropolitan Melbourne.

I have worked closely with the 30 primary and secondary schools across my electorate of Murray Valley to try to ensure the dedicated staff and school communities receive the important upgrades to facilities and equipment needed, funded by both State and Federal Governments, to assist in providing the highest standard of education.

Last year the all-Party Education and Training Committee found less that 70 per cent of students from the Ovens and Murray region are applying for university places, limiting the opportunities for our young people.

Appropriate resourcing of schools is critical to provide opportunities for the young people of Murray Valley, not only in entering university but also for entry to TAFE institutes for trade training, Mr Jasper said.

It is a fact that under this Government, Victorian schools receive the lowest funding per student of any state and territory in Australia, he said

The Victorian Government must further commit to making education its greatest priority, and to improving the education system, which is not fully catering to the needs of our students.