Devenish Primary School Committee desperately seeks students

By Simon Ruppert

Jan 9, 2023

Devenish Primary School Committee members have begun a formal campaign to advertise its benefits and attract students.

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The small community was in shock at the end of 2022 when it was informed there was a good chance the 147-year-old school would close permanently.

Community members immediately began a campaign to raise awareness of the problem, while searching for a solution.

Committee member Chris Gregory said they had not heard any updates from the education department since getting backing for their campaign from the State National party.

“We don’t have a decision on the school and they don’t seem to be committing one way or another,” Mr Gregory said.

“We have kids enrolled ready to go and we don’t know if they have a school to go to yet.

“We’re actively trying to get students and are advertising in the Ensign for that. We also have the support of (State Member for Euroa) Annabelle Cleelend.

“My concern is I think they (the state government) are trying to eliminate the smaller schools to centralise the system and make it easier for them.

“In a way we feel like we are fighting for the survival of all small schools in Victoria.”

Mr Gregory said the school had secured two students but feared since it has been closed for Christmas, if anyone had been inquiring they might not have had any response.

“We believe there is potential enrolment out there but there is no-one at the school right now to (enrol) them,” he said.

Mr Gregory said the committee was seeking students from across the region and was looking into the viability of a bus service from Benalla.

“We think our school can fit a niche market,” he said.

“Kids can fall through the gaps at other schools. A school like Devenish can offer one-on-one teaching, smaller classes and more personalised support.

“There’s kids that don’t fit into the big schools, and we can offer them another option.”

Mr Gregory said the committee’s position remained the same in that while it proactively searches for students it just wanted some time.

“We felt blind sided by the news the school might close,’’ he said.

“We felt like we, as a community, had not been given enough of an opportunity to see if we could attract students and make the school viable.

“All we want is 12 months before a decision is made.”