Prestigious university accused of making students complete welcome to country for marks

RED HOT TIP 

Melbourne University has been accused of making students in the masters of teaching course conduct a welcome to country to receive ten marks.

Sarah*, a mother of a student enrolled in the course, says the marks are worth more than marks for research or methodology and are based on how empathetic the students are.

“There’s a big conversation about teacher quality, about NAPLAN, … and the university that is the number one ranked university for Australia in the world is giving students more marks for their acknowledgement of country, then they are for methodology and research,'” she told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY to hear how the students welcome to country is marked

Education expert Adam Voigt reflected on his own experience with welcome to country, claiming he certainly hasn’t ever been “mandated” or “forced” to do it, while labelling it “absurd and wrong” to use the welcome to country to mark students.

Press PLAY to hear him weigh in on the case of Sarah and her child 

*Sarah is not her real name

Image: iStock.