Southern Suburbs BM; Tuesday, 7th February 2012; Gymea NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Castle Hill; Monday, 13th February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

Hunter Valley BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; New Lambton NSW; 5:00 pm. read more

Northern Suburbs BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; Cammeray NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Metropolitan BM; Tuesday, 14th February 2012; Burwood NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Cyber Savvy - Dee Why; Wednesday 15 February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

South Coast BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Woonona NSW; 6:45 pm. read more

Penrith Blue Mountains BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Penrith NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Metropolitan East BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Randwick NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Coast BM; Thursday, 16th February 2012; Gosford NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Tamworth; Friday 17 February 2012; 9:15-3:15pm read more

Mid North Coast BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Nambucca Heads NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

South East Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Griffith NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

Riverina BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Wagga Wagga NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

North West Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Tamworth NSW; 5:30 pm. read more

Principals BM; Saturday, 18th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 10:00 am. read more

Cumberland BM; Monday, 20th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Sydney City; Monday 20 February 2012; 4.30 - 6.30pm read more

Ku-ring-gai BM; Thursday, 21st February 2012; Hornsby NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Orange, Friday 24 Feb 2012; 9.15 to 3.15 read more

North Coast BM; Wednesday, 22nd February 2012; IEU Office Lismore; 5:00 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Revesby Heights; Wednesday 22 February 2012; 4:30-6:30pm read more

Monaro BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Barton ACT; 4:15 pm. read more

Lansdowne BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Fairfield NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Western BM; Friday, 24th February 2012; Orange NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Forbes; Monday 27 February 2012; 4.30-6.30 read more

Highlighting The Contribution Of Non-Government Schools

Look out for the IEU’s forthcoming publication Celebrating Diversity. Based on the recent IEU Symposium, Our Diverse Schooling System, Building a More Socially Cohesive Australia, the publication will make a contribution to the current school funding debate, highlighting the important contribution of non-government schools to our society and values.

The Federal Government will undertake a review of school funding next year, and submissions are being received.
Even though more than 50% of students sitting the HSC in NSW are enrolled in non-government schools, and in all capital cities, well over 40% of secondary students attend non-government schools, much of the media commentary so far has focused on a narrow class-based ‘public’ versus ‘private’ debate.

The IEU Symposium heard from speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Jesuit Priest Father Frank Brennan; NSW Supreme Court Judge Stephen Rothman, a former President of the Jewish Board of Studies; Osman Karolia, Principal of Arkana Muslim School in Sydney; Barry Wallett, of the Independent Schools Council of Australia; Patricia Hindmarsh of the National Catholic Education Commission and Stephen O’Doherty of Christian Schools Australia.
The keynote presentation was by the Edmund Rice Centre, which has undertaken research on bridging and linking activities undertaken by non-government schools.

This wide variety of speakers highlights the diversity of the non-government sector, which needs to be recognised, both by those involved as educators, parents and students, and by society at large, so that we can continue to build on past success.

Australians come from a broad range of cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds and the non-government sector both reflects and celebrates this diversity.

Whether ‘public’, secular, independent or faith-based, all schools have a valued and rightful place in our community and they remind us that diversity is something to celebrate.

The Symposium, and the forthcoming publication, act as reminders of why the non-government sector is so important and needs on-going support from government.

Newsmonth readers will receive the publication by direct mail out within the next few weeks.