NSW: Carr denies change to policy on selective schools

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2000
NSW: Carr denies change to policy on selective schools

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - There was no change to the government's policy on the number of
selective schools in New South Wales, State Premier Bob Carr said today.

In a strong denial of a Daily Telegraph report, Mr Carr said there were no plans to
increase or decrease the number of selective schools which has been set at 21 since 1995.

"There has been no change in this government's policy, there's no plan, there's no
alternative to the policy we were elected with in `95," he said.

"We believe we've got the balance about right.

"If you increase the number, you skim off the energy that would otherwise be there
in the comprehensive school system ... you create educational slums in their wake.

"But at the same time we're not going to decrease the number," he told reporters in Sydney.

The report in today's Daily Telegraph said Mr Carr planned to cap the number of selective
schools to prevent any further "brain drain" of bright students from comprehensive schools.

AAP dmc/cdh

KEYWORD: SCHOOLS CARR

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