Education

Anti abortion group barred from NSW schools

A life education program created by an organisation with ties to anti-abortion groups was endorsed by the NSW Education Department for use in public schools. Since discovering the links the department has banned the group from visiting schools and announced a review of the processes that led to its approval. The Wonder of Life (Before Birth) was approved by the NSW Department of Education and Training in March to be taught in years 5 and 6 as part of the personal development, health and physical education curriculum.

However the program's creator, Bruce Coleman, is a former executive director of the anti-abortion lobby group, NSW Right to Life, a member of the management committee of Fred Nile's Christian Democratic Party (CDP), and an unsuccessful CDP candidate at the 2004 election. Mr Coleman said the program was "very much biology", that he "doesn't get involved in the politics at all" and does not mention abortion "in the primary context" because it is "not appropriate".

"However, when abortion is raised, I respond by explaining to them the value of life. I just state clearly that abortion is the taking of an unborn life", he said. Mr Coleman's company, The Choices of Life Incorporated, is the Australian distributor of anti-abortion merchandise marketed by the US company Heritage House, some of which, such as a range of life-sized foetal dolls, is used in the program for NSW schools. The Choices of Life was set up in 2007.

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Training said it was reviewing how the program was approved. "Until that review is completed, the performance has been removed from the department's website and the company responsible for the presentation has been informed that they are not authorised to deliver the presentation in NSW public schools," he said.

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