Victorian teachers to undergo religious training after offensive cartoon shown to media class

Teachers will be given religious sensitivity training after an offensive cartoon was shown in class, causing a Muslim student “mental trauma”.

The Department of Education will provide training to all Victorian schools to help them cover topics related to Islam “more sensitively”. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Department of Education will provide training to all Victorian schools to help them cover topics related to Islam “more sensitively”.

It comes after a female Muslim student was left with “painful psychological and mental trauma”, according to her father, after an offensive cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad was shown in a year 11 media class at Mount Ridley College earlier this month.

The Herald Sun believes the cartoon shown to the class was a Charlie Hebdo front page from 2015, which sparked a shooting massacre at the magazine that left 12 dead.

The Department of Education has confirmed it was collaborating with Islamic Council of Victoria on a short video resource that will support schools in teaching about Islam.

The video will be made available to schools as a resource for teachers and school leaders.

It can also be revealed the school has completed its investigation into the incident, with it issuing an “unreserved apology” to all parents.

In a statement from the Islamic Council of Victoria, it said: “The status of the teacher in question will be addressed by the school and DET.”

“The ICV asks that the community allows the school and DET to complete their internal processes without further escalation,” the statement said.

The ICV also said it had met with the principal and senior staff of the school on November 18 to discuss the outcomes of the investigation.

“Further steps that will be taken by the school to improve their understanding of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, and the engagement with the parent community.

“A number of proposals were discussed, and these will be worked through over the remainder of Term 4.

“DET will be strengthening their policy guidelines on teaching material.

“New teaching resources will be provided to schools to assist them to cover topics related to Islam more sensitively and knowledgeably, and to create a more inclusive environment for Muslim students in government schools.

“The ICV said a video had been recorded discussing pertinent issues that teachers and schools need to be aware of when discussing Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, which will be made available to all government schools.”