Sydney Jewish dayschool’s registration cancelled
The Civil and Administrative Tribunal meeting in Sydney confirmed that the registration of the Yeshiva College, Bondi is not to be renewed and that it is now cancelled.
Sydney Yeshiva Centre
NSW Education Standards Authority recommended the measures.
NESA told the tribunal that the school did not comply with registration requirements.
The Chabad-Lubavitch Yeshiva College has around 56 students spanning Year K to Year 10.
In March 2019, it applied for the renewal of the school’s registration, but two inspectors identified concerns in the Yeshiva College’s compliance. The existing registration was extended twice for twelve months allowing the school to meet compliance needs.
In May last year, however, NESA recommended to the Minister of Education Sarah Mitchell that the registration not be renewed and cancelled.
Rabbi Dr David Slavin is Chair of the Board of Directors of Yeshiva College
In its reasons for the decision, the Tribunal stated that the school remains non-compliant in the areas of curriculum and governance.
Senior Member on the Tribunal Dr J Lucy stated: “I cannot be satisfied that it is compliant with requirements concerning child protection.”
At the end of March last year, an inspector visited the school the tribunal heard that she indicated in her report that “there were concerns about compliance in the areas of teaching staff, external providers, school curriculum, facilities, student welfare, attendance, responsible persons, financial viability, annual reporting and child protection legislation. She found the school to be non-compliant with the curriculum requirements, the requirements for premises and buildings and the requirements for proper governance. The Inspector also found that the School had not addressed the compliance concerns raised in the 2019 and 2020 inspection reports.”
The school did engage a compliance officer, but the tribunal heard that she had no experience in NESA requirements.
NESA contended that Yeshiva College is not compliant with a number of registration requirements. These include:
Teaching Staff: the requirement that teaching staff for the school have the necessary experience and qualifications.
Curriculum: the requirements relating to the minimum curriculum for a school providing primary education and for a school providing secondary education to students in Years 7 to 10.
Safe and supportive environment: the requirement that a safe and supportive environment is provided for students by means that include certain specified matters.
Proper governance: the requirement that policies and procedures for the proper governance of the school are in place.
Responsible persons: the requirement that each responsible person for the school is a fit and proper person.
In evidence, the tribunal heard that the child protection training for the schools’ staff lasted for 20 minutes. Furthermore, it detailed several breaches of child safety compliance.
Rabbi Slavin told J-Wire he would appeal to the Minister.
The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies stated: “The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies is very concerned and alarmed with the findings of the NCAT.
We will review the full decision before we engage with the school to determine if there is a path forward.
There should be no tolerance for institutions which are not fully compliant with relevant child protection requirements that are in place to ensure our children are safe at all times – a matter upon which there can be no compromise.
All schools must meet education department and government standards. Education, even for private schools, must meet at least basic education standards or the 3 R’s as we used to say – Reading, Writing & Arithmetic.
While sometimes the government departments can be excessive on some concern areas if they wish to follow a predetermined path, what concerns me is: Are these issues raised and the department’s view on them as poor as stated; if so this is most appalling. I do hope a pathway to sort out this is available and that oversight be improved so that the school can continue, It is essential that all children be in a safe environment and that all teaching staff be fully qualified as well a being capable of wholesome instruction.
So sad that this has become the case for this school.