The future of Brindabella Christian College remains up in the air. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry is yet to decide what action, if any, will be taken against Brindabella Christian College (BCC) over its ongoing governance and financial issues.
This is despite Ms Berry saying she expected to make a decision before Christmas.
Christmas has come and gone, and the start of the 2025 term is only a few weeks away.
A spokesperson for Ms Berry told Region that the situation had not changed since the college proprietor, Brindabella Christian Education Limited (BCEL), provided information demanded of it by the minister and the registrar of non-government schools after being issued an ultimatum in September to show proof of the school’s financial viability and governance standards.
“Regulatory action has been taken to ensure BCC is meeting the standards required of non-government schools and to provide certainty to the ACT Government that they will meet those standards in the future,” the spokesperson said.
“This regulatory process is still underway. The ACT government is closely monitoring the situation.”
But the government spokesperson did not say if the minister had received the registrar’s advice or if she had decided on a course of action.
The school’s reform group said today (10 January) that the ongoing uncertainty was affecting parents and called for clarity from the minister.
“Over the Christmas holiday period, we’ve had anxious parents reaching out for information around the status of the school’s operations for 2025,” it told Region.
“We’ve also noticed an increase in activity on the reformbcc.org website.
“Parents are looking for trust and confidence in their education provider and despite seemingly endless opportunities, BCEL has shown it is not able to provide that.
“The school community is asking for change, and reform of the governance is needed one way or another. We hope the minister has heard the community and gives clarity and timelines for any action she intends to take.”
The registrar and Registration Standards Advisory Board has been weighing BCEL’s response and liaising with the Australian Government, which provides $10 million a year in funding.
Before Christmas, unionised staff at the college called on all board members of the private Lyneham-based school to resign as dozens of their colleagues voted with their feet amid the ongoing uncertainty.
The Independent Education Union members wrote to the board claiming it had habitually failed to meet its financial obligations and that the antagonistic leadership of chair Greg Zwajgenberg was driving staff away from the school and alienating the school community.
Reform BCC wrote to Ms Berry before Christmas, saying it was increasingly concerned about alleged persecutory rhetoric from Mr Zwajgenberg’s, which failed to address governance and financial issues.
“We are concerned that his ongoing messaging and disinformation campaign may further negatively affect the viability of the school as well as the wellbeing of students, parents and staff at BCC,” Reform BCC said.
It also backed the staff members’ call for the immediate removal of all current board members and constitutional reform, and urged a ban on directors’ access to school funds and immediate intervention from regulatory and oversight bodies.
Loading ...
