Simon Crean firms up commitment to Holocaust studies.
Simon Crean, the Federal Minister for Education, has firmed up an oral commitment to mandatory Holocaust studies in Australian schools.
Simon Crean
In a written statement released to media today the Minister has said: “I would expect that the express inclusion of the Holocaust in the draft year 10 history curriculum will be retained in the final version.”
Last week The Executive Council of Australian Jewry issued a statement in which they said: “The Federal Minister for Education, Simon Crean, today appeared to confirm that the Holocaust will be a mandatory part of the history curriculum, ending recent speculation that the subject might be optional only. Responding to an enquiry from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Mr Crean said:
“My position is entirely consistent with that of the Prime Minister. We share the belief that events such as the Holocaust must form an important part of the history curriculum.”
The President of the ECAJ, Robert Goot, welcomed the Minister’s statement. “We appreciate the Minister’s renewed commitment to the mandatory inclusion of the Holocaust and look forward to the commitment being met when the final National History curriculum is published”.
Good, but lets hope that this does not go the same way, the election promise of “Kevin O7” went, who, once in power, forgot all about taking “Iran to an International Court for incitement to genocide”.