Erin is a teacher whose husband was once the Shadow Education Minister. Now she’s in big trouble over what she’s been saying about Palestine at her school
The wife of a NSW frontbencher who works as a teacher has been reprimanded by the education department for her pro-Palestinian activism at a public school.
Sky News Australia Host Sharri Markson reported that Erin Dib, whose husband is NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, told a Teachers 4 Palestine online group meeting on Friday that she was approached about her activism three times in one week.
Mr Dib is the former Shadow Education Minister and was principal of Punchbowl High School from 2007 to 2014 before taking office in the 2015 state election.
The Department of Education said a teacher at the government-funded Burwood Girls High School in Sydney was ‘advised’ during her work last year on communications about the conflict in the Middle East.
Ms Dib is reportedly part of a small group of teachers plotting a protest outside the offices of Premier Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns or Education Minister Jason Clare on Friday.
Teacher Erin Dib, wife of NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, claims she was punished by the Education Department for her pro-Palestinian activism at school
There has been a wave of political activism regarding Palestine in many countries, including Australia, following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7 and the Israeli government’s subsequent retaliation.
A Department of Education spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Teachers are expected to be politically neutral in class, on school grounds or when identifying themselves as a teacher in a NSW public school.
‘We provide clear guidelines for this for all our employees in our Code of Conduct.’
It is understood the principal of Burwood Girls High School has apologized to parents, students and staff for the unapproved political activism.
The education department is also offering support to students who may be affected by the conflict in the form of counseling services.
The Teachers 4 Palestine NSW Instagram page features posts encouraging teachers to wear traditional Palestinian Keffeiyahs in the classroom to show their support.
Mr Dib has previously expressed support for the Palestinians who mainly occupy the disputed areas of Gaza and the West Bank
Other posts encourage teachers to attend protests calling on Labor to show support for Palestine and encourage ‘block the boat’ protests aimed at disrupting Israeli shipping out of Port Botany.
The group has also created T-shirts and an information booklet instructing teachers and school staff on how to be politically active in the conflict.
The group’s Facebook page has also posted an event for January 26 at Sydney’s Belmore Park.
“Join Teachers & School Staff for Palestine as part of the Palestinian contingent at the Invasion Day Rally, 2024. We will have posters and our t-shirts available on that day.”