NSW: Non-Catholic parents losing faith in public schools: oppn

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
NSW: Non-Catholic parents losing faith in public schools: oppn

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - Students of other faiths attend Catholic schools because their
parents have lost confidence in the public education system, the NSW opposition says.

News Ltd reported today the Catholic church is looking at ways of maximising the enrolment
of Catholic students at Catholic schools and increasing the proportion of school staff
who are "practising and knowledgeable Catholics".

NSW opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said there were 739,307 full time
students in NSW public schools in 2006, down from 760,078 in 1996.

"This step has been forced upon the Catholic church by the increased demand for non-government
schools," Mr Stoner said in a statement today.

"It is fair enough that Catholic church leaders should encourage Catholic students
into Catholic schools."

Mr Stoner said parents were concerned over inadequate infrastructure and a lack of
maintenance at state schools.

"Parents are voting with their feet and walking away from NSW government schools for
a number of reasons, with questions over values at the top of parents' lists," he said.

"Parents are concerned about bullying and a lack of discipline and believe public schools
are not focusing enough on respect and responsibility."

But a spokesman for Education Minister John Della Bosca said latest figures showed
enrolments in kindergarten and several other years were up for the first time in a decade.

"The opposition takes any opportunity to attack public schools," he said.

Fairfax reported today the church was considering setting up its own preschools as
a way of increasing student numbers in primary and secondary schools and spreading the
Catholic faith.

A report on early childhood education, commissioned by the Catholic Education Office,
recommended a trial of preschools to be run on parish or school land.

AAP kd/wjf/apm/sp

KEYWORD: CATHOLIC OPPOSITION

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