THE Victorian opposition has labelled the opening of Stanley Primary School, despite it having no students, as “farcical”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Labor education spokesman James Merlino made the comment as parents prepare to meet Education Department officials tonight to discuss the fate of the 155-year-old school, which has no students enrolled this year.
The Indigo Council has organised a closed meeting between parents and the department at the Stanley Hall. A meeting last week proved futile.
The department said the school would remain open but staff might not be required if the situation remains unchanged.
“The school will remain open until such time parents decide to return their children to Stanley Primary School, but may be destaffed in the event that no student returns while it remains open,” Education Minister spokes- woman, Kristy McSweeney, said.
The situation has Mr Merlino baffled.
“To have a school open but not one student enrolled is farcical,” he said.
“Clearly there is an issue at Stanley and the government has been impotent to fix it.
“Mr (Martin) Dixon needs to make the people of Stanley and their children’s education a priority and fix this mess.”
Ms McSweeney said the opposition’s showed a lack of understanding of the sensitivities at the school and showed Labor was out of touch with the community.
“The government will respect the decision of parent and support school communities, like Stanley Primary School.”
Parents last week tried raise issues they have with the principal who has been on leave since late last year.
They were the department was unable to discuss employees.