Department rejects 'humiliation' claims

The Department of Education and Training has rejected suggestions that students at Brisbane Water Secondary College have been discriminated against or humiliated because they had not been able to afford to pay voluntary school fees.

However, it has confirmed that as many as 10 per cent of students received only folios without certificates, because they had not completed a "sign-out".

The department was responding to a letter published in Peninsula News, claiming students had been humiliated by not be presented with certificates on the presentation day at the end of last year.

Department spokesman Mr Sven Wright said: "No students have been denied their School Certificate or folio because they were unable to pay voluntary contributions.

"No students were humiliated on stage during the presentation: all received identical blue folders, about 90 per cent of which contained the students' School Certificates, reports and folios.

"To collect this documentation the school requires students to complete a "sign-out" procedure including the return of all textbooks and library books - parents are advised of this in writing early in Term 4 and students reminded throughout the term.

"Students who had not completed the process before the presentation received a reminder note in their blue folder.

"Special sessions for the return of books were held on the Wednesday morning before the presentation and immediately afterwards.

"About a dozen students are still to return their books - they will receive their School Certificates, reports and portfolios when they do so.

"A number of students would have returned their books and therefore received their documentation on or after December 21," he said.

Email, 2 Feb 2007 Sven Wright, Department of Education and Training