‘Failure to act’ on teacher who praised Hamas terror

The Albanese government has been accused of failing to tackle the issue of pro-Palestinian activist teachers, including a Melbourne schoolteacher who openly endorsed the terrorist attack on Israelis by Hamas.

Schoolteacher Jason Wong.

The Albanese government has been accused of failing to tackle the issue of pro-Palestinian activist teachers, including a Melbourne schoolteacher who openly endorsed the terrorist attack on Israelis by Hamas and may still be teaching students.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said federal Education Minister Jason Clare only responded following inquiries from The Australian to a letter sent last month in which she urged him to act in relation to the case of Jason Wong, a teacher at Prahran High School who on December 17 stated at a pro-Palestine protest that “Hamas is doing exactly what they have to do”.

Victoria’s education department has refused to confirm whether or not Mr Wong remains in his job.

In her letter to Mr Clare, Senator Henderson said Mr Wong’s statement constituted “a chilling endorsement of the attack by a terrorist organisation on Israeli citizens”.

“On any measure, this is completely unacceptable conduct, whether it be in the community or in the classroom. Please advise whether this is in breach of the relevant codes of conduct and, if so, what action is being taken against this teacher by the Victorian Department of Education,” she wrote.

When asked about this by The Australian, Mr Clare did not respond specifically to the issue but stated: “There is nothing more important than the safety of students and staff, and there is no place for anti-Semitism or Islamo­phobia in Australia and our education system.”

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Classrooms should be a place for learning without political biases and prejudice, and teachers should act in accordance with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and any code of conduct that applies in relation to their employment,” he said.

Senator Henderson said Mr Clare’s response “shows the Albanese government has absolutely no interest in combating indoctrination in the classroom. How can a teacher who endorses the horrific Hamas terrorist attack continue to work in an Australian school?”

In response to questions over whether Mr Wong continues to be employed at Prahran High, or any other Victorian school, and whether he had been disciplined in any way, a spokesman for the Victorian Education Department said the department did not comment on employment processes regarding individual teachers.

“We communicated with all government schools to remind staff of their professional obligations as well as the importance of treating each other with respect, understanding and sensitivity,” the spokesman said.

“Teachers should not use their professional position to make political statements but instead support students to consider and think critically about a range of perspectives on complex issues.”

In her letter to Mr Clare, Senator Henderson wrote: “The Victorian Institute of Teaching’s Code of Conduct requires teachers to maintain objectivity and prohibits them from displaying bias or preference in their inter­actions with students. Yet, there appears to have been no consequences for teachers who engaged in activism such as encouraging students to attend protests during school hours.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tertius Pickard

Last month, the principal of Prahran High School, Nathan Chisholm, said he was treating all the complaints about Mr Wong, who is a VCE science and biology teacher, with the “utmost seriousness”.

The school was closed for school holidays on Tuesday and Mr Chisholm could not be contacted for comment.

Hundreds of parents responded to Mr Wong’s comments by urging Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll and Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn to investigate Mr Wong, in a petition that’s gained more than 1360 ­signatures.