21st August, 2015
The Victorian Government has reportedly ordered schools to move weekly special religious instruction classes out of class time to lunchtime and before and after school to make way for new curriculum content next year.
The State Government has reportedly made the move to make way for new content on world histories, cultures, faiths and ethics. At present children who "opt in" can take part in SRI classes in a particular faith – mostly Christianity – for half and hour a week.
Access Ministries, the main provider of religious instruction in the state, is reportedly seeking "urgent discussions" with the Education Minister James Merlino and was "extremely disappointed" at the lack of consultation prior to the decision.
The Age newspaper quoted chief executive Dawn Penney saying the decision "contradicts a clear statement made prior to the last state election that the government would support SRI".
– DAVID ADAMS
