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| Down Under |
| Get tough with Muslim schools: ALP |
| 2005-08-12 |
| LABOR wants the Government to take a hard line with Muslim schools to force them to teach mateship and tolerance. And it will demand funding be cut to schools that peddle extremist or inflamatory material. Opposition Leader Kim Beazley will today push for education to be on the agenda at Prime Minister John Howard's anti-terrorism summit with Islamic leaders next month. Labor say the nation's 29 Islamic schools must enshrine Australian values such as respect, tolerance, diversity and mateship in their teachings. More than 12,800 students attend the 29 schools and they receive $47 million, or $1.6 million each annually, in Commonwealth funding. They receive a similar amount from the states. The Labor plan includes: TEACHING students respect for democratic values; PROFESSIONAL development for teachers; and BUDDY programs between Islamic and other schools. Mr Beazley will today call on the Government to ensure Muslim classrooms do not "present opportunities for extremism". The plan demands all Muslim students are taught the responsibilities that come with being a member of the Australian community. "I'm urging the Prime Minister to put on the table teaching values of respect and tolerance at all our schools including Muslim schools," Mr Beazley said. |
| Posted by:Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World |