Balwyn High School charges parents $130 for students’ excursion into Melbourne CBD

Parents of Balwyn High School students were shocked to receive a $130 notice for a day excursion that would see students head to the CBD to learn about homelessness.

A Balwyn High School excursion involves students exploring the City of Melbourne and learning about homelessness.

A popular state high school is charging parents $130 for their year 8 kids to walk around the city centre and learn about homelessness.

The Balwyn High School excursion involves students exploring “the City of Melbourne, including visits to the Melbourne Museum, the Big Issue workshop and walking tour of the Melbourne CBD”.

The Big Issue charity says its workshop provides “a real-life insight into homelessness and disadvantage’’.

A message to parents notes that the trip “aligns with the year level themes of optimism, resilience and responsibility, and the civics and citizenship curriculum in year 8 humanities”. Parents are given the option of paying $130 in two instalments for the event, scheduled for June.

One parent said she would “expect an overnight stay for that amount of money”.

“I gather not many are going because they can’t see value for money,” the parent said. It comes as many excursions at state schools are under $50, including events that take students into the city.

The excursion would see students learn about homelessness in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: David Caird

The excursion comes as another parent from the government system accused schools of making money from uniform and book sales by charging premiums.

The parent from Hazel Glen College in Doreen said she was concerned at the high cost of compulsory uniform items such as blazers, which are rarely worn and can cost more than $200.

She said the charges “amount to the state government committing financial abuse”. “The greater majority of the parents are single mums,” she said.

The mother also questioned the school charging $130 for a Jacaranda digital bundle which is priced at $115 on the Jacaranda website.

Other items include a “sublimated polo shirt” in Hazel Glen College school colours which is $61.95. The same shirt costs $45.95 at Craigieburn Secondary College through school uniform retailer PSW.

Hazel Glen College is also charging $640 for a four-night camp in Wonthaggi, which the parent said was too costly. The school has 2906 students – 24 per cent of whom are from the bottom socio-economic group.

A description of the trip was sent to parents.

The school charges parents $428 a year in fees – one of the lowest in the state, according to My Schools website.

In comparison, Balwyn High has 57 per cent of students from families on top incomes and charges average fees of $1140 a student.

A spokesman for the ­Department of Education and Training said that while school instruction to fulfil the curriculum was free for all government school students, schools could offer extra-curricular activities and seek voluntary contributions from families.

“The Victorian government’s $148.3m camps, sports and excursions fund makes extra-curricular activities accessible to all students, no matter their situation,” he said.

Schools are required to ensure any payments charged to parents are approved by school councils, and communicated to parents for transparency.