Bridging the educational divide between rural and city students in New South Wales has been put on the national agenda. The New South Wales Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli negotiated an agreement between Commonwealth, State and Territory governments on Friday. Results from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show children in rural schools are now one and half years behind their city counterparts. The Member for Murray Darling, John Williams, says the move is the first step in addressing the gap.