AUSTRALIA

Cage inquiry reforms overwhelm Education Directorate

The Canberra Times reports that the roll-out of reforms to ACT schools prompted by the autism scandal has hit bureaucratic snags within the ACT Education Directorate, including timelines not being met, meetings not being attended, expertise not being available and information being double-handled. The review was sparked by national outrage after a school erected a cage for a 10-year-old boy with autism. While the ACT Government has agreed to all 50 recommendations arising from the independent review, the first report in progress shows that the Education Directorate has completed only two of the 50 recommendations while Catholic Education and independent schools yet to sign off on any.

Religious education to be reviewed in some Queensland schools after principal raises concerns

The ABC reports that the Queensland Government will review how religious education is being taught in State schools after a principal of a Brisbane school cancelled religious classes over concerns that the program was trying to convince children to become Christian. Education Minister Kate Jones said her department would review material provided to students, and has said that “any materials found to be in breach of the policy will be removed from schools.”

Schools recruited in eating disorder fight

Victorian schools are being told to be on alert for signs of eating disorders in the classroom as boys and girls as young as nine are displaying worrying behaviour such as throwing away lunches and over-exercising, according to Eating Disorders Victoria. The Advertiser reports that teachers will be advised to teach ‘the joy of movement’ instead of winning in sports programs, and to model healthy eating and body image in a new ‘early intervention’ plan.

Malka Leifer: Australian principal accused of 74 child sex charges walks free in Israel

The Age reports that the former principal of an ultra-Orthodox girls’ school in Melbourne, who fled the country after allegedly sexually abusing her students, could remain in Israel indefinitely with a court ruling that she is mentally unfit to face extradition. Malka Leifer has been under home detention in Israel since 2014, and has avoided 10 extradition proceedings due to her experience of panic attacks before each hearing. Last week the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Ms Leifer was mentally unfit to face extradition, lifted her home detention and ordered she receive psychiatric treatment. It is understood the Israeli prosecutor’s office will appeal the lifting of the house arrest.

Uber could replace school buses for disabled children

The Australian reports that children with disabilities could soon be catching an Uber to school under a radical proposal that would unwind the specialist school bus system in Victoria and Tasmania. The $600,000 trial is currently being workshopped with support from the Federal and Victorian treasuries. Some parents are concerned about the vulnerability of their children, given their disability, explaining that Uber may not be appropriate for all children’s needs. Bus Association Victoria executive director Chris Lower has said that the plan is “nonsense” and “fantastically inappropriate”.

Police investigate stabbing at WA school

WA Today reports that a student from a WA school was taken to hospital late last week after being stabbed at the school. At about 1:30 p.m. police were called to the school after a 15-year-old female allegedly stabbed another 15-year-old student with a knife. The injury is not considered life-threatening. The Education Department said that they are aware of the incident and police confirmed that they charged a teenage girl with aggravated unlawful wounding, and going armed in public to cause fear.

Bishops face sack for child abuse 'negligence': Pope

The Australian reports that Pope Francis has declared that Catholic bishops guilty of negligence in child abuse cases can now be dismissed from office. The decision, which will also apply to senior church officials, was unveiled late last Saturday in a papal decree, which said such cases of negligence would now fall under existing canon law allowing for prelates to be sacked for ‘serious reasons’.

Parents outraged over schools anti same-sex marriage talk

Parents at a Wollongong Catholic primary school have expressed outrage over a planned talk about the ‘impacts’ of same-sex marriage. The Mercury reports that a flyer was circulated to parents inviting them to attend a talk at the school’s hall. The flyer stated that “natural marriage must be defended in Australia before it’s too late.” Parents took to social media calling the event “highly offensive” and “extremely bigoted”.

INTERNATIONAL

Schools say Muslim students 'should break Ramadan fast' to avoid bad grades

The UK Telegraph reports that hundreds of schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have asked parents to allow children to break their Ramadan during exam season after government-backed guidelines raised concerns that their grades would suffer. The guidelines were sent to over 3,000 secondary schools across England and included advice that students break their Ramadan fast and avoid ‘all night praying’ to prevent tiredness.