Murat Dizdar, NSW's education secretary, initially suggested a focus on public education, prompting outrage from private school representatives. His comments, aired on an ABC program, questioned the necessity of non-government schools, highlighting successful international education systems relying solely on public provision.
Dizdar later retracted his statement, emphasizing his respect for the role of Catholic and independent schools. However, criticism persisted. Catholic Schools NSW expressed concern about the impact of such remarks from a senior official. The NSW Education Minister, Prue Car, affirmed the government's commitment to choice and collaboration among the three education sectors. The opposition criticized the secretary's perceived intention to limit parental choice.
Various stakeholders shared their perspectives. The National Catholic Education Commission highlighted the historical contribution of Catholic schools. The principal of PLC Sydney emphasized the value of both public and private schools in offering diverse educational models and meeting the needs of varied communities and parental values.