Matthew Keong

Matthew John Keong, aged 48, is a former deputy principal at Windsor State School. Keong was Acting Principal at the primary school in 2016, where the then principal, Stephen O'Kane was seconded to the position of Acting Regional Director of the Metro Region. Keong has worked in the educational sector for several decades across parts of Queensland. Keong has been known for the removal of religious instruction at Windsor State School in 2016, which although disappointed many, caused the Department of Education Queensland and then Education Minister Kate Jones to order an investigation into the religious instruction program.
Religious Instruction
In 2016, Keong, who was deputy principal at the time at Windsor State School informed parents in a letter that he had suspended the religious instruction at Windsor State School. Keong criticised Connect (who operated the RI program) for "soliciting children to develop a personal faith in God and Jesus." Keong's actions lead to the then Education Minister Kate Jones ordering a review regarding the religious instruction program. The then minister stated, "Any materials found to be in breach of the policy will be removed from schools." Many church leaders were disappointed at the decision, with the Indooroopilly Uniting Church minister Rev Dr Elizabeth Nolan stating that, "the majority of the principal’s examples were never used at Windsor State School." Paul Clark who was a spokesman for the Queensland Christian Religious Instruction Network, was also disappointed, calling the decision a mistake. <ref name="ABC"/>

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