Arabic version: الآباء يتساءلون عن الإدارة بعد إغلاق مدرسة اللغة الصينية
The abrupt closure of the Western Chinese Language School (WCLS) has left parents and staff in disarray, raising questions about the school’s financial management and governance. According to ABC News, the school was placed into voluntary administration on June 9, affecting about 300 students, including those studying for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
Parents like Sarah, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed shock at the sudden decision, which has forced her and others to seek alternative schools mid-term. Many families are now facing additional costs for commuting to new locations, with some enrolling their children in schools across Melbourne.
Teachers at WCLS have also been affected, with reports of unpaid wages and underpayment issues dating back to 2022. One teacher, Cheng, questioned the transparency of the decision-making process regarding the school’s administration, stating that the staff were not informed of the impending closure.
The reasons cited for the school’s insolvency include ongoing liabilities and a significant historical underpayment issue estimated to exceed $400,000. Parents, including Sarah, are left wondering why the school continued operations until such a sudden closure, highlighting a lack of communication and planning from the administration.
The Victorian Education Department has ceased funding for WCLS and is offering affected VCE students placements at alternative providers. As investigations into the school’s financial situation continue, concerns linger about whether adequate oversight was in place to prevent this disruption.
