Parents of young children in Harrisdale who were concerned they would have to send their children to a new school in 2018 may have some good news.
Examiner Newspapers can confirm the Minister for Education Sue Ellery ordered an investigation into the issue.
Member for Jandakot Yaz Mubarakai said he had spoken to Mrs Ellery and will grant exemptions to families with children already at Harrisdale Primary School.
“The Department of Education is going to get in touch with the families and parents that have been affected with this situation and they are going to allow those with siblings at Harrisdale Primary School to continue their education at the same school,” Mr Mubarakai said.
“Having two different kids at different schools, having to pull one out, that inconvenience of having friends and having to make new friends – the whole process has been addressed by the Department of Education.
“It’s the right outcome for families, the school and the community and it’s great to see the solution being provided at such short notice.”
Earlier in July, at least 23 families from Harrisdale, expecting to send their children to start school at Harrisdale Primary School in 2018, found out they would have to send their kindergarten and pre-primary aged children to the new Forrestdale South West Primary School when it opened next year.
Harrisdale Primary School principal Karen Duncan sent out a letter warning parents of the change in June.
The letter said even if families had older children at the primary school, their school entrance age children would have to enrol at the new school due to intake area changes.
