January 11, 2008 (NCA)
THE rising number of Muslim schools is part of the "modern age" and the focus should be on ensuring all students get a world-class education, Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard says.
While controversy continues over the proposed construction of a 1200-student Islamic school in Camden, southwest of Sydney, Ms Gillard said it was an issue for the local council.
"There is a debate about the planning approvals and whether or not that is an appropriate location," Ms Gillard, who is also acting Prime Minister, said on Fairfax Radio.
"From the point of view of the Federal Government generally, we say that parents deserve to have choices about where their children go to school.
"That's inherent in the Australian system, and we want to make sure wherever they go that they have a high class, indeed world class, education."
Ms Gillard said the Government had plans to introduce a national curriculum board.
"We've had the Catholic system for a long period of time, we all grew up with Catholic kids who went to Catholic schools," she said.
"In the modern age we have some Muslim schools as well.
"We have to make sure that wherever kids are learning, they are learning a curriculum that is going to equip them for living and working in a modern Australian nation."
THE rising number of Muslim schools is part of the "modern age" and the focus should be on ensuring all students get a world-class education, Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard says.
While controversy continues over the proposed construction of a 1200-student Islamic school in Camden, southwest of Sydney, Ms Gillard said it was an issue for the local council.
"There is a debate about the planning approvals and whether or not that is an appropriate location," Ms Gillard, who is also acting Prime Minister, said on Fairfax Radio.
"From the point of view of the Federal Government generally, we say that parents deserve to have choices about where their children go to school.
"That's inherent in the Australian system, and we want to make sure wherever they go that they have a high class, indeed world class, education."
Ms Gillard said the Government had plans to introduce a national curriculum board.
"We've had the Catholic system for a long period of time, we all grew up with Catholic kids who went to Catholic schools," she said.
"In the modern age we have some Muslim schools as well.
"We have to make sure that wherever kids are learning, they are learning a curriculum that is going to equip them for living and working in a modern Australian nation."
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