MELBOURNE — A passionate community campaign has been launched to save the historic Ancient Greek program at Melbourne’s prestigious Xavier College, which faces cancellation after nearly a century and a half of continuous teaching.
The elite Jesuit school in Kew initially confirmed plans to axe the 148-year-old curriculum pathway. The decision came after a drastic decline in student enrollment, rendering the program logistically and financially unsustainable for future VCE cohorts. [2]
An Era on the Brink
First established at the school’s Kew campus in 1878, Xavier College stands as the only secondary day school in Victoria still offering Classical Greek. Its cancellation marks the potential end of a foundational educational era in the state. [2]
The school administration noted that while the institution deeply values its long classical history, class sizes have dropped significantly. Currently, just four students are completing the subject in Years 9 and 10. This reflects a broader statewide trend; last year, only three Year 12 students sat the Classical Greek exam across all of Victoria.
Backlash and Community Resistance
The decision has provoked strong resistance from parents, alumni, and the broader Greek-Australian community. A public campaign has been launched on Change.org, quickly gathering signatures to pressure school leadership and the Jesuits to keep the program alive.
Supporters argue that cutting the language severs a vital link to Western education. Petition organizers stressed:
“The ancient Greeks provided firm foundations for philosophy, democracy, mathematics, sport, drama, history and literature. Their language is the bedrock for understanding these at the source.”
What Lies Ahead
Xavier College has left a small window of hope open, stating they have not permanently closed the door to the program if student interest and enrollment demands rebound in the coming school cycles.
For the time being, community members continue to mobilize, urging the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and independent school boards to protect endangered humanities pathways before they disappear entirely.