At its August meeting, Council backed the initiative, to write to the CEOs of major telecommunications companies on behalf of struggling local primary and secondary students, with the view of sourcing sim cards and dongles to enable them to access the internet free of charge.

“As a parent with three children, home-schooling in an area of concern, has provided some very important lessons… Lessons about how vital face-to-face learning is and the necessity for internet connectivity,” Mayor Asfour.

“With most of the focus centred around students about to sit their HSC, I am becoming
increasingly concerned about the thousands of other students who I believe are being left
behind.

“I applaud the Government for providing dongles to some HSC students. But what of the students in our city whose parents cannot afford computers, let alone pay for the internet?”
Mayor Asfour will also write to the NSW Minister for Education to release the results of the NSW Education Standards Authority’s recent study into the extent of disadvantage in the state’s schools caused by COVID.

“I will further urge her to explore options at supporting students through this prolonged period, with one option being to provide “internet vouchers” to school principals to hand out to students in need,” Mayor Asfour said.

“I know this sort of thing can be done, because we’ve seen its success in Victoria, where Telstra provided 4,000 sims and dongles to students in need.

“There are many families struggling in our City, battling to put food on the table and pay their bills, let alone trying to afford paying for internet services.

“And with no clear end to home schooling, I certainly don’t want to see these vulnerable students falling behind.”

If you live in Canterbury-Bankstown and need COVID support or financial assistance, visit cb.city/covid