Helen Dalton MP and Deputy Premier Prue Car meet in Griffith to finalise Murrumbidgee Regional High School de-merger

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton and Deputy Premier Ms. Prue Car will meet with senior educators from Murrumbidgee Regional High School (MRHS) today to work on plans to de-merge the School.

The move follows the release of a damming Department of Education report on the failed merger between Griffith and Wade High Schools.

“This was like a forced-marriage that no-one wanted,” Helen Dalton said. “The children, their families and the staff have all suffered as a result of this ill-considered merger.”

The highly-critical Department of Education report recommends that the two sites now operate independently.

The de-merger is supported by the Griffith Teachers Federation who met with Ms Dalton recently, supporting her calls for the two schools to return to operating independently.

“This merger plan deserves a “F” because it has completely failed everybody,” Helen said. "Over 300 students have been lost to competing schools since the merger and there are currently 19 vacant teaching position across both sites. This model has decimated student numbers and staff numbers."

Mrs Dalton said the de-merger must be completed as quickly and as seamlessly as possible.

Minister Car has also announced that planned upgrades to both Griffith and Wade campuses are well underway with development applications due to be submitted for approval within a month.

Mrs Dalton said she “welcomes this announcement and is excited to see stage 2 of the school upgrades come to fruition”.

The upgrades will see multipurpose halls built on each site and a much-needed refurbishment to the library at the Griffith campus.