ONE of the world's leading education scholars has had his invitation to speak to Victorian principals revoked amid fears that his views on performance pay ''may be too controversial''.

But the Education Department has denied cancelling the lecture and said the matter was a ''misunderstanding''.

Professor Michael Apple.

Professor Michael Apple, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was due to address principals and senior staff from state schools on November 9.

But in an email seen by The Saturday Age, the professor was told he had been ''released from his commitment'' to give the lecture.