Parent asks if 'warning signs' missed after Chinese language school closure

Staff from the Western Chinese Language School say they are owed unpaid wages for May. (Supplied: WCLS staffer) Link copiedShareShare articleFor Sarah, the sudden closure of a Chinese language school has disrupted her child's studies. She has also likely lost hundreds of dollars in tuition fees for a full year. "The school has been there for more than 17 years, and [I] never thought the school, in the middle of the term, could just say, 'No, we need to stop due to financial issues,'" said Sarah, who is using a pseudonym to protect her child's identity. "It's very, very shocking and surprising." Like 27 other families, Sarah has been forced to find a new school and pay tuition again for her child to continue studying a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Chinese language subject after the Western Chinese Language School (WCLS) was placed into voluntary administration on June 9. Dozens of students completing VCE Chinese language subjects face an uncertain future after a Chinese community language school goes into administration. Including the VCE group, the school in Melbourne's west had about 300 students. Some parents have enrolled their children in another language school on the other side of Melbourne, in Mount Waverley, so they face increased petrol costs because of the long commute. WCLS teacher Linda, who taught years 5 to 8, has been worried for her students. "They loved learning Chinese very much, and they loved me very much," said Linda. Some teachers are owed thousands of dollars because they were underpaid for work at the school over a long period of time. Cheng, a teacher who asked not to use her real name, said she and other staff have not been paid wages for May. She also questioned an explanation about who made the decision to put the school in administration. Administrators from Rodgers Reidy told a meeting she attended that the decision was made by the school and community together. "Who is this community they are referring to, because none of the teachers were aware this was going to happen," said Cheng through a translator. XJS teachers first spoke out about underpayment in 2022. (ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser) This is not the first time teachers have raised issues with the governance of a Chinese community language school. Four years ago, when teachers from Xin Jin Shan (XJS) Chinese Language and Culture School made underpayment allegations, they also pointed out that the school's governance lacked transparency. The schools are incorporated associations, but had not been following rules that required them to allow people to become association members, they alleged. A group of Chinese language teachers allege they are owed unpaid wages and entitlements for work over decades due to a "grey area" of Victoria's education system. Teacher Sunny Sun told the ABC that nothing has changed at XJS since they spoke out in 2022. He again urged authorities to investigate. "If nothing gets done, people will lose faith in government bodies, and taxpayers, teachers and families will all be short-changed," Mr Sun said. The ABC contacted the XJS chairperson about Mr Sun's concerns, but has yet to receive a reply. Documents provided to the ABC showed the WCLS principal, chairperson, treasurer and secretary met with administrators multiple times in late March. The ABC asked Consumer Affairs Victoria, which has oversight of associations, about the WCLS case, but the authority would not comment on individual investigations. The school also received money from taxpayers. In 2025, the WCLS school was given $82,593 by the Victorian Education Department, which has now ceased its funding agreement with the school. A department spokesperson would not comment, other than to say: "VCE students affected by the Western Chinese Language School closure have been offered places at an alternative provider from Term 3." Affected students are now looking for new schools to study Chinese language subjects. (AAP: Paul Miller) The explanation about why the WCLS was placed into voluntary administration has left Sarah with "unanswered questions about the school's financial management". In a meeting on June 19, administrators said the school was insolvent and cited two main reasons for the administration: There were ongoing liabilities and expenses, such as rent and wages, and a separate liability, estimated to be more than $400,000 for historical underpayments, according to meeting notes sent to the ABC. "However, the total liability has not yet been fully quantified, as extensive calculations are required covering a long historical period," the meeting notes said. Sarah said she was not entirely convinced by the explanation and noted the underpayment case started in 2022 and had taken four years to this point. "It is difficult to understand why the school continued operating as normal until suddenly closing mid-year, leaving students, parents and staff with very little notice," she said. Stud

Parent asks if 'warning signs' missed after Chinese language school closure

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