Adelaide Islamic

School To Lose
Federal Funding

PRESENTED BY: CHE THOMAS, JORDAN HEIDRICH, KAYA SELBY, STEPHEN

BUTLER
A second Islamic school, this time in Adelaide, has lost Commonwealth funding after failing
to meet governance and financial management standards.
The Federal Government will pull its funding from the Islamic College of South
Australia once the first term finishes in April.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the decision had not been taken lightly
but the school had been given several chances since November 2015 and still did not meet the
governments reasonable standards and expectations.
It is frustrating that after all this time the school is again in a situation where there
have been multiple resignations from the board as recently as last week including the
resignation of the principal, Birmingham said today.
There has been constant turnover of board members at the SA school since 2015 and
it has missed a number of reporting deadlines the government requires. The school received
$4 million in commonwealth funding in 2016.
The government has already stripped funding from the Malek Fahd Islamic School in
NSW, a decision upheld by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in January, over similar
governance and financial concerns.
In December, it also asked the authority responsible for the Islamic College of
Canberra to explain why it too should not lose federal funding after failing to meet standards.
What is the possible impact on the
community with the possible school
closing?

Education
Educators (Teachers)
Students
Parents
 The Effects on Education

The loss of trust and financial access will disadvantage the school
If they are denied funding, it will be very difficult to reopen the school if
closed.
Over crowding of other local schools with increased class sizes and building
capacities.
The lack of relevant spiritual education.
Cost of transitional trainings for the receiving schools.
Could cause a chain reaction or ripple effect that would shudder the
community and effect more than just the school.
The Effects on Educators
They may have to look for work somewhere else
May be hard to find work for Islamic teachers as
there are not many Islamic schools around
They may have to move to find a job
They may have to become qualified in another job
Financial burden placed on teachers
Surrounding schools effected by class sizes
increasing placing extra pressure on teachers
The Effects On Students

Students will be affected culturally and emotionally

Forced into schools that do not share the same religious beliefs and
practices
Students would have felt comfortable and safe within the environment of
the school as it is familiar,, , could face discrimination in new schools.
Loss of friends,, , and inability to relate to other students could affect
mental health of students
Students may be unable to perform and develop resentful feelings toward
the government
Closure affects a wide age range
 The Effects on Parents
Lack of cultural and religious understanding from educators and the education
system in other state and private schools.
Parents send their children to the Islamic College to teach them things they
can't teach themselves.
Parents having to source educators and tutors in the specialized fields that the
Islamic College provides.
Financial burden on the parents having to pay fees upfront- without assurance
the college will remain open.
Parents being resented by their children for not providing a school with a safe
and nurturing environment where the child's religious practices are accepted.
 Group
Discussion
 Update from:
Principal Br Kadir Emniyet
Islamic College of South Australia
April 7th, 2017
 A payment of $445,480 has been approved by
the Australia Government to assist the school to remain
open for term 2.
A new application for federal assistance has been
lodged and the school is now, and will remain in the
future compliant with all federal regulations,,
A decision on an approval of the new application will
take a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks.