DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — GLOBAL CLIMATE
STRIKE
1040. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the minister
reportedly giving tacit support to children missing school tomorrow to attend a
climate protest.
(1) Has the minister also given permission for teachers to
take the day off to attend this protest?
(2) If not, why not?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Education and Training.
The minister supports young people
being involved in public policy debates and in taking peaceful, nonviolent
action to demonstrate their views. However, as she has publicly said, she is
the Minister for Education and Training with responsibility for the School
Education Act 1999. It is a requirement under that act that students attend
school.
(1)–(2) Principals
manage leave. Teachers wanting to attend the climate protest must have leave
approved by their school principal.