Parents pay as schools outsource courses on bullying, self-esteem to private providers

SCHOOLS charging for courses on making friends, coping with bullies and boosting self-esteem as key parts of curriculum outsourced to private providers.

SCHOOLS are charging for courses on making friends, coping with bullies and boosting self-esteem as key parts of the curriculum are outsourced to private providers.

Cash-strapped parents are also being asked to pay for special programs in science, technology, visual and creative arts, problem-solving and fitness and health.

Chatswood Public School for one charges $4.40 for a Making Friends course, linked to the curriculum, covering “interacting, resilience, problem-solving, positive relationships, tolerance and taking action”.

Another course costing $5.50 covers “self-esteem, self-confidence, self-discipline and self-determination”, while the Stamp Out Bullying program costs $4.40. There are also courses in Street Sense, including bike safety, $5.50, and Dinosaur Science, $5.50.

A note to parents says the external courses provided “experiences which will not only assist with our active citizenship program but also give our students a broad view of some areas of the curriculum.”

Central Coast Council of P & Cs secretary Sharryn Brownlee says private operators are taking their businesses into schools and charging fees for courses that should be ­delivered free.

“It is an absolute disgrace,” Ms Brownlee said. “This is trying to turn public schools into a user-pays system by dragging money out of parents who are already taxpayers.

“The money, even if initially small, to attend an external provider program for bullying sits outside the government’s commitment to an anti-bullying program in every school.”

Ms Brownlee says costs can also add up over the year.

“Free programs already exist for mandatory anti-bullying lessons, there is no reason to be taking money from parents for programs the school can deliver,” Ms Brownlee said.

“Parents should not have to pay extra for this, nor should they for sport classes, dance classes or music or art classes — these areas are all core curriculum areas.”

An education department spokesman said schools were able to engage the services of guest speakers or “content specific experts” to complement the curriculum.

He said student involvement was “discretionary” and families struggling financially should seek assistance from the principal with resources provided for such circumstances.