[Greens-Media] Greens MP opposes Chinese funded culture classes

[Jamie Parker]

13 October 2011 – for immediate release

Greens MP opposes Chinese funded culture classes

Greens MP Jamie Parker will today introduce and support a 10,000 signature petition opposing Chinese government funded classes in NSW public schools.

"The NSW government has admitted that topics sensitive to the Chinese government, including Taiwan, Tibet, Falun Gong and human rights violations, would not be included in these classes," said Mr Parker.

“Concerns have been raised by teachers, parents and the community over the quality and impartiality of these classes. The Greens are concerned that the integrity of public education is being compromised by opportunities for a foreign government to promote views outside of the curriculum to school students.

"Teachers are recruited from China and paid by the Confucius Institute - an arm of the Office of Chinese Language Council International which is affiliated to the Chinese Ministry of Education. They must meet certain criteria, including not having any involvement in Falun Gong. 

"It is clear that the teachers have been politically vetted and will be deeply prejudiced toward Beijing's orthodoxy on issues such as Tibet, Taiwan, human rights and the Tiananmen Square massacre.

“The Greens welcome the teaching of Chinese language and culture, however we must be cautious of foreign government influence within our state schools.

“These classes are very different to other international language programs such as Alliance Francaise. Confucius classes are directly linked to and funded by the Chinese government. This is highly problematic in the teaching of language and culture, which should be free from government bias and control.

“We Greens are calling on the government to remove Confucius  classrooms from NSW schools and  replace  them with classes run by an Australian-run organisation to ensure  the  curriculum of  any  Chinese  language or culture courses  in NSW  schools is  free  from censorship  or propaganda.”
 
More information: Alison Martin 9230 2803 or 0432 941 533



Jamie Parker MP
Member for Balmain
112a Glebe Point Rd,
Glebe NSW 2037
Ph:  9660 7586
Fax: 9660 6112
jamie.parker at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
www.jamieparker.org.au