Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney has criticised comments made by the NSW Education Secretary on ABC’s Australian Story in April. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
In the program, Murat Dizdar questioned the ongoing necessity of non-government schools in NSW, suggesting that “the existence of private schools should be debated and discussed.”
Mr Dizdar’s comments follow a reported drop of 25,000 state school enrolments over the past three years, with the Education Secretary declaring he will be aiming to get those students back into the public system.
“He (Dizdar) could not be more wrong,” Mr McInerney said at the Catholic Schools NSW Education Law Symposium, held in Sydney on July 14.
Mr McInerney criticised Mr Dizdar’s decision to raise the issue on national television rather than in a departmental meeting or a teachers’ conference.
And he wasn’t alone in his condemnation. Shortly after the program aired, Mr Dizdar received criticism from others working in the private school sector.
“It’s outrageously bad and very worrying for Catholic education,” Mr McInerney said.
“He took the occasion, when the eyes and ears of the country were on him via the national broadcaster, to raise this question for us.
“It’s a monopolistic provision of schooling in this state where all other providers in New South Wales under Murat’s vision are swept aside, done away with, and can’t exist.”
Although Mr Dizdar issued a statement 36 hours later acknowledging the role of non-government schools, Mr McInerney called it a “forced retreat.”
“He didn’t disavow his position, he said some calming, clarifying, and comforting words back into the public sphere,” Mr McInerney said.
“When the most senior official of education in this state goes into the cabinet and gives advice on schooling in this state, he doesn’t think we should exist.”
Mr McInerney said if all schools were to become public, not only would it displease parents looking for a faith-based education, but would come at a cost of $5 billion each year to the taxpayer.
The Catholic Schools NSW Education Law Symposium is an annual conference for the state’s catholic teachers to listen to speakers, network, and gain insight into their field.
FULL STORY
“He doesn’t think we should exist:” NSW education secretary slammed (By Tara Kennedy, The Catholic Weekly)
