'Well-liked' student's life cut short

A school photograph of Jessalyn Leong Source: Herald Sun

A MELBOURNE Girls' College student mowed down and killed by an out-of-control truck was 14-year-old Jessalyn Leong.

Friends have paid tribute to the teen on Facebook pages.

Melbourne Girls’ College confirmed Jessalyn was a Year 9 student at the school.

Assistant principal Linda Brown said the school had contacted her four closest friends and were offering students counselling.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to Jessalyn being run down as she walked along the city-side of Church St, just south of the Bridge Rd intersection about 3pm yesterday.

Police say a white Mitsubishi tray-truck was heading north on Church St when the driver clipped the rear of a 4WD and lost control.

After mounting the footpath and hitting a bench seat and a rubbish bin, it struck Jessalyn, who became pinned under the vehicle.

She died at the scene.

Melbourne Girls' College Assistant principal Linda Brown said the news was devastating.

"She was an extremely well-liked student. She had a love of learning," Ms Brown said.

"When you see there is such promise and that promise is unfulfilled, it's very sad."

Ms Brown said it was not known whether friends of the student who were with her at the time were Melbourne Girls' College students.

"We are all thinking of the family at the moment and we are thinking of her friends as well.

"It's a very sad situation, I think, for everyone, particularly at this time when families are coming together to celebrate the Easter break."

The road toll stands at 62 deaths this year.

Police are urging witnesses to the incident, and also those who saw the white tray-truck on Church St prior to the collision, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

- with  Anthony Dowsley

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School maths inquiry: Ask the students

STUDENTS and parents will be asked to contribute to a state inquiry into Queensland's senior science and mathematics assessment system in schools.

The inquiry, revealed in The Courier-Mail last week, will investigate claims that problems with senior assessments are impacting on the number of students studying the subjects, along with concerns about the length of "extended investigations" assignments and marking criteria.

It follows a long-running controversy embroiling the Queensland Studies Authority about assessment in physics, chemistry and mathematics.

Students have been writing up to 10,000 word assignments in the subjects, despite a recommended word length of 1000 to 1500 words.

EDUCATION: Inquiry for 10,000 word school essays

Education and Innovation Committee chair Rosemary Menkens said the inquiry, ordered by Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, would look at the matters independently.

"This isn't a cut and dried issue," Mrs Menkens said.

"While some teachers have a problem with the current system, others think it is wonderful.

"The committee will consider whether the balance is right between long form assignments and shorter assessment tasks, as well as the differences between, and relative merits of, standards-based and numerical score-based assessment processes in these subjects."

The committee will receive initial briefings from Queensland's three schooling sectors, the Queensland Studies Authority and Professor Peter Ridd, who represents a large group of disgruntled mathematics and science teachers, at Parliament House on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Sometime after that it will invite submissions from the general public, including parents and other interested parties.

"As well as hearing from educators, administrators, and industry groups, I hope we hear from students during the course of our inquiry," Mrs Menkens said.

Those interested in the inquiry are being encouraged to subscribe to the committee's mailing list on the Queensland Parliament website: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/en/get-involved/how-do-I-get-involved/email-alert

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