Kennett to close more schools

By Peter Boyle

MELBOURNE -- At least another 159 state schools are to be closed in Victoria according to an announcement by the Kennett government on October 15. Teachers' unions warn that the real number to be closed is closer to 200. This follows the closure of 55 schools last year.

Of the schools to be closed, 127 are primary schools and 12 secondary. Most are in country areas.

The closures will help implement the $145 million cut to state education in this year's budget. Meanwhile private schools will be given an extra $4.8 million subsidy this year. According to Labor opposition leader John Brumby, by 1996 the Kennett government will have pulled almost half a billion dollars out of the state education system.

Teachers' unions have threatened industrial action and a community campaign, but the leaderships of the two unions have demonstrated this year that they will not take any action which may jeopardise their application to the Industrial Relation Commission to move state teachers into a federal award.

Richmond Secondary School, one of the schools closed last year, has been under occupation by parents, teachers, students and community activists for more than 300 days.

The government plans to use the site to house a new school formed out of a merger between Richmond and Malvern Girls' Schools. Parents and students at both these schools oppose the merger.

On October 11 students from Richmond Girls' and Malvern Girls' staged a walkout. Some 70 Richmond Girls' students then marched to the occupied Richmond Secondary College for a rally and barbecue.

Simon Millar, a veteran of the occupation, told Green Left Weekly that the occupation would continue. Over the last 10 months, he said, hundreds of people had been involved in the 24-hour defence of the school. The school has continued to operate with volunteers from among the state's many unemployed teachers. About 30 students have been attending classes.

Tireless campaigning has helped the occupation committee raise about $1000 a week to cover expenses and maintain the school.

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