00:00Hello and a very big welcome to Northern Territories.
00:05We're stepping back into the classroom as school kicks off today.
00:09It's been a year...
00:10Pretty big changes for the education department and education system here in the Territory.
00:15As of today, most of the middle schools in the Northern Territory have been phased out.
00:20Instead replaced with comprehensive high schools.
00:23Now for those interstate viewers that may...
00:25You may be wondering what's the go with middle schools.
00:27Well they were introduced here in the Territory in...
00:302007.
00:31But a 2022 review into that introduction.
00:35Did find that middle schools were actually a risk factor in terms of student retention.
00:40Meaning kids were getting to the end of year 9.
00:43And then perhaps not returning to school for...
00:45For those senior years of 10, 11 and 12.
00:48Now the idea with moving to...
00:50These comprehensive high schools is to boost those student retention rates.
00:53Which are the worst here in the Territory...
00:55Out of the nation.
00:56The idea is to keep the kids in a comfortable environment.
01:00And create impactful long term relationships with teachers that keep...
01:05them in classrooms.
01:06And hopefully get more students completing their NTCET qualification.
01:10The equivalent of a HSC or a VCE.
01:13It's been a week of pretty...
01:15Pretty big changes here in the Territory.
01:17Just earlier this week the Northern Territory Government...
01:20announced that they were mandating the singing of the National Anthem in English.
01:25They were both verses in all Northern Territory schools at assemblies and ceremonies.
01:30Now this drew quite mixed reactions from the community here.
01:35Some saying it was a good move.
01:37It would boost a national pride in our kids that they felt had been...
01:40lacking as of late.
01:41Others saying it was playing politics and distracting from the real...
01:45issues with our education system.
01:47Now here in the Northern Territory our attendance rates...
01:50are the worst in the country.
01:51And the 2025 data that was recently released did show...
01:55that attendance and enrolments were continuing to full on last year.
02:00But for a lot of the students back in the classroom this isn't the top of their priority list.
02:04They're probably...
02:05a bit nervous, bit excited to get back into learning today.
02:08I actually caught up with year four...
02:10student Harley before school started...
02:12to talk to her about how she was feeling getting back...
02:15into the classroom.
02:16Despite the fact that she has actually ended up in a moon boot...
02:19just a...
02:20a few days before school starts.
02:22I'm really excited to have fun with my friends.
02:25as soon as my foot heals.
02:27and...
02:28I'm really excited to enjoy...
02:30with my...
02:31with my...
02:32with my teacher...
02:33and...
02:34I am really...
02:35excited to...
02:36learn maths and other stuff.
02:40thank you for getting the answers.
02:41as soon as your
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