By Rob O'Brien

A demographic review is to be carried out into a community in Victoria known as an education blackspot because of its shortage of schools.

Education minister Bronwyn Pike said the department will appoint an independent taskforce to carry out an analysis to ascertain the current and projected numbers of secondary school-aged children in Coburg.

“The taskforce will consult with the local Coburg community – including Member for Pascoe Vale Christine Campbell, local school principals and school councils, the High School for Coburg group and Moreland City Council,” Ms Pike said.

The announcement follows lobbying from a local advocacy group - High School for Coburg – which claims that 53 per cent of 265 families surveyed from the area were close to moving away because there was no local open-entry high school.

A number of local schools have closed in the Coburg area in recent years including Moreland City College, which was forced to closed in 2004 following years of poor enrolments and a spate of vandalism.

The State Government’s review will also assess local demographic information from Moreland City Council, primary school enrolments, parents’ intention for the secondary education of their children, maternal and child health records and future housing capacity in Coburg to determine the best future education provision.

“The review will be similar in purpose to the education needs analysis conducted for the community around Spotswood, Kingsville and Yarraville,” Ms Pike said.

“The Department constantly monitors enrolment trends, residential growth and demographic changes as we plan for current and future schools.

“As a result of an earlier review into education provision in Coburg, the $5.9 million Coburg Senior High School was opened in 2007 for Years 10-12 students.”

Ms Campbell said the review will start at the beginning of the second school term. It is expected to be completed by mid-year.