Students stand up for Shalom school
SHALOM Christian College students have stood up to the Uniting Church, demanding answers on the shock closure of their beloved senior school.
Year 12 graduates met Schools and Residential Colleges Commission executive officer Mark Bensley yesterday after hearing the school would close for welfare reasons after reports emerged of sexual assaults on campus dating back to 2006.
School captain Fred Asiba and recent graduate Edward Wightman, both 17, said the reports and reasoning did not make sense.
“He told us the school is getting shut down because we can’t meet the standards of the new policies that the government are making and they think we can’t make that because of what happened 10 years ago,” Mr Asiba said. “Things have improved, and I’ve seen it.”
“No one’s got a straight answer, which is shocking,” Mr Wightman said.
The students said even after the face- to- face discussion, they felt as though they were being lied to.
“He wasn’t giving the real answers, it’s like he was hiding something,” Mr Asiba said.
“They think Shalom isn’t a safe environment for the kids but what I’m trying to say to them is it is safe.”
“I don’t think the students would go to school if they felt unsafe,” Mr Wightman said. “A lot of people travel from a long way just to go to school here. If they felt like they were in danger, wouldn’t they just go back or be pulled out of school already?”
While Mr Bensley declined to comment on the meeting with students, Uniting Church Moderator the Rev David Baker said the church would continue to liaise with the union and staff.
“The mood is sombre, as you would expect, and there are a number of things in place to assist with the transition, including the provision of professional counselling and other support services,” Mr Baker said.
The church said it would ensure students had placement options in 2018.
“We will work with the private school sector to maximise opportunities for student placements and will reach out to nearby schools to help … staff secure employment,” he said.
The two students said shutting the school would leave present and future students at a huge disadvantage, many of whom were from remote communities and may not be able to complete their education.
“If Shalom is going to get shut down, I guarantee you there’s going to be more criminal rates because of those kids trying to fit in,” Mr Asiba said.
“If they close it, it’s going make it unsafe for the kids. They’ll feel like they’re losing home.
“At Shalom they focus on attendance and working hard is the No. 1 priority. I feel like if they go to a mainstream school they’re going to lose each other and lose themselves.
“Because they come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, to fit in with other kids it’s going to be hard for them.”