JCA initiative to address falling figures in Jewish day schools in Sydney
JCA has announced an unprecedented community-wide initiative to secure the future of Jewish Day School Education in NSW.
Two key issues have been identified that will have a significant impact on JDS education in the coming decades – a significant decline in the number of school-age Jewish children in NSW; and affordability for parents, which is exacerbated by the knock-on financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address these challenges, JCA, together with the Presidents of the Jewish Day Schools and major donors, agreed that a community-wide plan was needed to meet the needs and expectations of our community over the next two decades.
The new Jewish Day School Review Committee, chaired by David Gonski AC, will spearhead this initiative. Joining him on the Committee are leaders from community: Stephen Chipkin, immediate past President of JCA; Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Optus CEO; Jonathan Gavshon, Group Homes Australia Co-CEO; Anna Green, BCG Senior Partner; Anne Hastings, former Principal of Emanuel School and current Masada Board Member; Gary Pinshaw, McKinsey Senior Partner; Caryn Sandler, Gilbert + Tobin Head of Legal Service Innovation team; Jacquie Seeman, Thomson Geer Partner; and Allan Vidor, Toga Group Managing Director and immediate past president of JewishCare.
The newly formed Jewish Day School Review Committee will conduct an impartial assessment of the sustainability of the Jewish Day Schools over the coming decades, and propose recommendations that will improve that sustainability. In doing so, it will build on the recent JCA-NOUS independent Jewish education survey completed by more than 900 parents – together with focus group input and participation of 32 community stakeholders.
The Committee’s goal is to release its findings and recommendations by June 2021.
JCA
May the decline in enrollment be correlated with the rise in costs of school fees that are already at unaffordable levels? Perhaps the esteemed committee can investigate this angle?
Its pretty obvious there is a hidden agenda to force Moriah to take non-jewish students. No doubt that’s what the pre-determined report will find.