A state education department that regurgitates the propaganda line that independent and faith schools provide “values education”, while not mentioning the values of public education, says it aims to provide “impartial information”.

Late last month, the West Australian Department of Education responded to the Rationalist Society of Australia‘s letter that raised concerns about content that the department provided for prospective parents on its website.

In early September, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman asked education minister Sabine Winton (pictured) why the department’s website promoted the ‘values-education’ propaganda claim of independent and religious schools, while not referring to the superior values of public education.

He noted that many independent and religious schools’ promoted values including religious-based discrimination, sectarianism, segregation, inequality, and anti-science dogmas.

In response, Director General Jay Peckitt said the department would consider the RSA’s feedback as part of an ongoing review of its public communications.

“The Department of Education aims to provide impartial information that reflects the diversity of educational offerings available in Western Australia,” he said.

“Our objective is to ensure families can make their own decisions regarding preferred schooling options for their children. Religious schools often seek to preserve their distinct ethos and mission, which is valued by their school communities.

“We value your engagement and your feedback will be considered as part of our ongoing review of public communications.”

Last week, the RSA revealed that a West Australian Christian school in receipt of millions of taxpayers’ dollars teaches its science students “different perspectives”, including the creationist perspective, in relation to human evolution.

The RSA has also written to the state’s new attorney-general, Tony Buti, seeking confirmation on when it would be delivering on the Cook government’s commitment to remove religious exemptions from the state’s Equal Opportunity Act.

In October last year, former attorney-general John Quigley told the RSA that a re-elected Cook government would amend the Act in 2025 as part of “reforming and narrowing the religious exemptions provided under the EO Act”.

In 2022, the RSA welcomed Mr Quigley’s stated commitment to strengthening equal opportunity protections for LGBTIQA+ staff and students in religious schools.

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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.

Image: Sabine Winton MLA (Facebook)

Letter from Director General Jay Peckitt, 22 September 2025

Dear Mr Gladman

Thank you for your email dated 20 August 2025 to Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Education; Early Childhood regarding independent and religious schools in Western Australia. The Minister has asked me to respond directly to you.

The Department of Education aims to provide impartial information that reflects the diversity of educational offerings available in Western Australia. Our objective is to ensure families can make their own decisions regarding preferred schooling options for their children. Religious schools often seek to preserve their distinct ethos and mission, which is valued by their school communities.

We value your engagement and your feedback will be considered as part of our ongoing review of public communications.

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Minister. A copy of this response will be forwarded to the Minister’s office for noting.

Yours sincerely

Jay Peckitt 

Director General