The Pharos Alliance has expressed positive updates regarding its campaigns to help restore the Advanced Major subjects at La Trobe University, noting it is their immediate priority amid a strategy to strengthen the future of Greek teaching.
The Pharos Alliance issued out an article as written by its President Professor Joseph Lo Bianco outlining the current positions of Greek education in Victoria and the strategies underway to preserve it.
The Pharos President remarked on the situation that includes Ancient Greek at Xavier College being discontinued after nearly 150 years of teaching as well as La Trobe’s suspending its Advanced Major subjects.
He reflected that a campaign is underway (and gaining momentum) to revitalise the program at Xavier College, while emphasising that they are working closely with La Trobe to achieve a viable solution for restoring Advanced Major in Greek.
“Rather than allowing the program to decline, Pharos negotiated an innovative shared-funding agreement under which the community has a genuine opportunity to secure the program’s future,” Lo Bianco said in the article.
“The immediate objective is clear. We must raise $91,500 to unlock additional University funding and restore the Advanced Major in time for Semester 1, 2027, ensuring that current and future students are not disadvantaged.”
Professor Lo Bianco confirmed that the University has committed to providing the remaining $73,500 if the community can raise their share, which would make it possible to restore the Advanced Major for three years.
The Pharos President praised the campaign’s beginning which involved an initial public meeting that featured 45 attendees, which has been followed with financial pledges and other organisations and individuals setting up their own fundraising initiatives.
He remarked that those present at the first meeting agreed they should proceed in two stages, the first concerning the short-term goal of restoring the Advanced Major subject for Semester 1, 2027.
“This is our immediate priority, and all fundraising efforts are now directed towards achieving that goal,” Professor Lo Bianco said.
They noted the second stage will follow that and will involve coming up with a long-term strategy for Greek language education at La Trobe to secure the program on a permanent basis.
“Our aim is not merely to rescue subjects under threat, but to use this remarkable community mobilisation to build a sustainable future for Greek across schools, universities and the wider community for generations to come,” the Pharos President said.
They stated a further public meeting will be announced soon to update the community on the fundraising progress, negotiations with La Trobe and the next stages of the campaign.
“With continued community support, we can restore the full Greek program at La Trobe University and lay the foundations for an even stronger future for Greek language education in Victoria.”
