{"id":17621,"date":"2026-07-16T09:23:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T09:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/16\/community-rallies-to-save-148-year-old-ancient-greek-program-at-xavier-college-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T09:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T09:23:37","slug":"community-rallies-to-save-148-year-old-ancient-greek-program-at-xavier-college-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/16\/community-rallies-to-save-148-year-old-ancient-greek-program-at-xavier-college-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Rallies to Save 148-Year-Old Ancient Greek Program at Xavier College \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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MELBOURNE<\/strong> \u2014 A passionate community campaign has been launched to save the historic Ancient Greek program<\/strong> at Melbourne\u2019s prestigious Xavier College<\/a>, which faces cancellation after nearly a century and a half of continuous teaching. <\/h4>\n

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<\/strong>, rendering the program logistically and financially unsustainable for future VCE cohorts. [2]<\/p>\n

An Era on the Brink<\/h2>\n

First established at the school\u2019s Kew campus in 1878, Xavier College stands as the only secondary day school in Victoria<\/strong> still offering Classical Greek. Its cancellation marks the potential end of a foundational educational era in the state. [2]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Backlash and Community Resistance<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Supporters argue that cutting the language severs a vital link to Western education. Petition organizers stressed:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What Lies Ahead<\/h2>\n

Xavier College has left a small window of hope open, stating they have not permanently closed the door<\/strong> to the program if student interest and enrollment demands rebound in the coming school cycles.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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[1] https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org<\/a><\/p>\n