Christian schools boom in Australia

One of the big differences between the UK and Australia is the number of Christian and independent schools.

Recently the Australian Broadcasting Corporation carried a report about the number of pupils attending independent schools rising to 40%. Interestingly, they assumed that this should be seen as a negative development. Over the last decade there were 320 new Catholic and independent schools, and only 279 new Government schools. 34% of pupils now attend schools with a particular religious emphasis. There are over 50 Muslim schools with 40,000 pupils. There are 820,000 pupils in Catholic schools, and 715,000 in independent schools (over 80% Christian). The number in state schools is 2,619,000.

So why should this be seen as a negative development? Julian Hill, the Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, suggested one main problem – that children may not mix outside their own faith or ethnic group – and that some (especially home schoolers) would be taught “extreme or conservative” curricula. He asked in a recent speech: “What is being taught to these kids? Are they mixing with broader society?”