End of an era: Xavier College ends 147-year classical Greek tradition as enrolments decline

From my aboriginal days arsenic Education Convenor of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV), I developed a strong involvement successful Classical Greek—a subject that, astatine the time, was offered by lone a fistful of secondary schools successful Victoria.

In countless discussions with like-minded radical and friends, the aforesaid question often arose: Could Classical Greek,a challenging yet immensely rewarding subject ,both successful terms of marks and intelligence fulfilment ,be introduced into the Community’s schoolhouse curriculum?

That accidental yet arrived successful 2011, when the precocious Alexandros Giannadakis—then a seconded teacher from Greece, besides teaching Classical Greek astatine Balwyn High—proposed that we see the subject successful our program. That aforesaid year, it was offered to big students, and by 2013 it had expanded to precocious schoolhouse students. By the extremity of 2013, we received authoritative accreditation to teach VCE Classical Greek from 2014.

This was surely nary mean feat. Credit indispensable spell to the Education Committee of the time: Spiro P , Vasso Z , Nick D, the then main Gianni Milides ,as well arsenic Honorary Secretary Costas Markos, and of people the driving unit down it all, Alexandros Giannadakis.

In 2015, our archetypal cohort of students sat the VCE examination. Of the fourteen students, 7 achieved earthy scores supra 30, scaling to 40+, an bonzer effect for our inaugural year. The subject continued to thrive and successful 2020 1 student achieved a earthy people of 44, scaling to 50+,an outstanding accomplishment.

Deputy Minister of Education Kostas Zouraris. Photo: Supplied

Encouraging students to take connected Classical Greek was ne'er easy. Yet each year, a dedicated radical roseate to the situation of what is widely regarded arsenic 1 of the astir demanding subjects. Alexandros’ passionateness was unmatched. To sustain the program, helium taught students from Balwyn High aft their schoolhouse discontinued the subject, and for respective years travelled to South Oakleigh Secondary College to teach a small but committed group.

Even aft my departure from the Community, my involvement successful Classical Greek did not wane. I often met Alexandros implicit java to sermon the challenges facing the subject. After his unexpected passing successful 2024, I was gladsome to lend a helping manus to find a teacher who would proceed his work. But successful truth, nary 1 could regenerate him—certainly not his passionateness and dedication.

It is so profoundly concerning to larn that Classical Greek is present successful a captious position. Few realise that the VCE introspection is acceptable by the New South Wales Aducation Standards Authority, and that debased enrolments successful some NSW and Victoria person placed the subject under threat. At 1 point, there was adjacent uncertainty astir whether it would proceed successful 2026, fto unsocial beryllium offered successful 2027.

While that contiguous information appears to person eased, the subject remains precarious.

To marque matters worse, the lone time schoolhouse successful Victoria offering Classical Greek has present withdrawn it from its curriculum. Xavier College successful Kew, where the subject had been taught continuously since 1878,has made the hard and disappointing determination to discontinue it. Τέλος εποχής. The extremity of an epoch !

Over the years, galore of Xavier’s Classical Greek students went connected to study astatine prestigious universities such arsenic Oxford and Harvard. The nonaccomplishment of a tradition spanning astir 150 years is profoundly saddening.

So, what bash we bash now? Και τώρα τι κάνουμε;

There is, however, crushed for hope. One of Alexandros’ erstwhile students,now a teacher of Classical Greek within the Community, has stepped forward. Miltiadis Paikopoulos is starring a run to guarantee the subject’s survival. He recognises that its aboriginal depends connected expanding student numbers not lone successful Victoria but besides successful New South Wales, and has already begun engaging with cardinal stakeholders successful some states.

As a subordinate of the PHAROS Alliance, I person assured him of our afloat support. I sincerely anticipation the wider Greek assemblage will rally down this effort. The GOCMV, successful particular, carries a special work to safeguard a programme it established successful 2013.

It would beryllium a tragedy to contradict students the accidental to prosecute with the connection and thought of the large philosophers of past Greece. I person known galore students who studied Classical Greek, and each speak of the acquisition with heavy appreciation.

We indispensable enactment present to unafraid its future.

And 1 happening I cognize for certain: if Alexandros were still with us, helium would beryllium warring tirelessly to sphere the programme helium worked so hard to build. He would beryllium knocking connected doors, reaching retired to erstwhile students, speaking with Xavier and anyone other willing to listen—engaging each imaginable stakeholder and pursuing each accidental to support Classical Greek alive.

We beryllium it to Alexandros’ bequest to bash the same.