Statement by The Hon James Merlino, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education
| All government secondary school students in years 9 and 10 will be taught about the Holocaust from this year, to tackle rising anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice in our schools and broader society. Minister for Education James Merlino today directed the Department of Education and Training to ensure all government secondary schools are teaching the Holocaust and address broader issues of racism and prejudice. While the Holocaust is in the current Victorian curriculum, it is not taught in all schools, and when it is, it is often not taught as well as it could be. Mr Merlino also announced new and refreshed teaching and learning resources for Holocaust education will be developed in partnership with the Victorian Jewish community and Gandel Foundation. The Andrews Labor Government will work with Gandel Foundation and the Jewish Holocaust Centre to develop resources for the Victorian curriculum context, based on adaptations of existing Yad Vashem teaching resources and lesson plans produced by the World Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem. The Government will work with Victorian Jewish organisations, and alumni of the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators, to review the existing resources to ensure they are up to date and fit for purpose. These steps are being taken to ensure Victorian students learn the lessons of the Holocaust and schools play their part in reversing the growth in anti-Semitism evident in our community. Other related initiatives include increasing funding to Courage to Care, the establishment of a dedicated ethnic or religious vilification hotline for schools, students and parents, and the establishment of new student advisory group to look at what more we can do to make sure our schools are inclusive communities where diversity is valued. |
y47