The NSW Department of Education has changed its sponsorship policy to recognise that weapons manufacturers are not appropriate partners for schools.
Teachers for Peace and Medical Association for Prevention of War have successfully argued that weapons companies should be added to a list of harmful industries that must not associate with schools. Just like tobacco, gambling or alcohol industries, weapons companies now cannot advertise to children in NSW schools.
We warmly welcome this change, and congratulate the Department of Education for taking action to protect children from harmful influence.
Now three states – NSW, Victoria, and Queensland – have adopted policies to prevent weapons companies from advertising to children.
Third-party STEM education programs that continue to partner with weapons companies in these states risk breaching department policy by exposing children to a prohibited industry. We urge STEM programs to reconsider their sponsorship arrangements.