PARENTS have been banned from discussing proposed changes to Fremantle high schools on the grounds of local primary and high schools.

Traci Gamblin from the action group High School Options for Freo says the directive flies in the face of WA education minister Peter Collier’s invitation for “everyone who lives in Fremantle to have their say on local secondary schools”.

“We’re all parents who drop our kids off at primary school and use the opportunity to have a chat about the latest developments,”Ms Gamblin told the Herald. “We’ve been told the principals of all the primary schools in Fremantle were summoned by the district office and told that High School Options For Freo were not to gather and discuss the amalgamation issue on school grounds. And this on the day the minister releases the long-awaited community consultation process.”

South Metropolitan Education Regional Executive Director Margaret Collins confirmed the ban had been issued, saying it was inappropriate for such discussions to take place on school grounds.

“The minister has called for a free and open consultation and it is important no school is perceived to endorse the views of one group or individual over another or to be influencing discussion in that way,” she said.

Ms Gamblin does not regard consultation as genuine, because an option to increase local intake at John Curtin College of the Arts is not being offered.

Last week the Herald broke the news that Hamilton SHS looks most likely to face the axe under any forced amalgamation of Fremantle region schools. South Fremantle is also an outside chance for closure.

by EDDIE ALBRECHT