The New South Wales education department has apologised after riot police were called to manage out-of-control crowds at the state’s selective school exams.
Police were called to Canterbury Park Racecourse, south-west of Sydney’s CBD, at about midday on Friday following reports of traffic and crowd control issues. About 1,300 students had finished exams at the Canterbury site and were trying to leave with their parents, as another 1,300 students plus their parents attempted to enter the facility.
About 90 minutes after the second exam’s scheduled start at 1.30pm, children waiting were told it had been cancelled.
The tests – which qualify students for accelerated streams in public primary and secondary schools – are normally sat in high schools but the department had organised this year’s sessions in bigger venues because the test was online.
Murat Dizdar, the education department secretary, apologised for the “inconvenience and stress” caused to students and their parents.
“What occurred was unacceptable and fell well short of the department’s expectations,” he said.
“I understand the frustration of families who had made arrangements to attend the tests.”
Dizdar said that further tests scheduled across the weekend at Randwick, Homebush and Canterbury had all been cancelled due to concerns around crowd control.
“Testing will go ahead as planned at the other 104 testing sites across the state,” he said.
“I want parents and carers to know that we are committed to rectifying this situation.
“The department will be in direct contact with a range of options for make up tests.”
