School doors swing shut
3rd June 2010
From the Parliamentary Library
Author: John Masanauskas, education reporter
Publisher: News Ltd
Publication: Herald Sun, Page 17 (Wed 2 Jun 2010)
Keywords: Martin (1),Dixon (1)
Edition: 1 - FIRST
Section: NEWS
School doors swing shut
DOZENS of state schools have merged and one has closed in the past year.
The State Government says the mergers were voluntary, but the Opposition accuses it of a sham consultation process.
Since last July, 45 schools have merged to form 21, bringing the number of mergers since Labor took power in 1999 to 144, according to the latest Education Department figures.
Preston East PS closed last year, bringing total closures since 1999 to 40.
Cate Hall, from the High School for Coburg group, said more than 1000 families had been fighting for another local secondary school since Moreland City College closed its doors in 2004.
``It's very frustrating. All the suburbs around us have a local high school, but Coburg, which has the highest expected growth, has no open public secondary school,'' she said.
Liberal education spokesman Martin Dixon said the Government was merging and closing schools with little or no public consultation.
``It is hypocritical of the Government to claim education is its number one priority, then close or merge hundreds of schools by stealth, secretly hiding the hit list on its website,'' he said.
``Labor cannot be trusted to ensure Victorian children receive the education they deserve,'' Mr Dixon said.
Acting Education Minister Maxine Morand said the Liberals closed more than 300 schools in the Kennett era.
``As Liberal Party president, (Opposition Leader) Ted Baillieu's real estate company profited from selling schools after 300 were shut down,'' she said. Labor did not impose school closures and had opened 36 since 1999.
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Martin Dixon MP
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