EXTRA $8.3 MILLION FOR SCHOOL BUILDING RENEWAL

The Stanhope Government has allocated $8.3 million over four years to honour its election commitment to improve the state of repair of school infrastructure.  The funding will resource increased refurbishment projects across a number of ACT Government schools. 

This funding commitment is in addition to the $11.1 million to be spent in 2005-06 on capital upgrades in Government schools. 

“There are 96 Government primary schools, high schools and colleges in the ACT. The majority of these schools are aged between 30 and 40 years old and many are in need of extra maintenance works to ensure that they remain high quality learning environments,” the Minister for Education and Training, Ms Katy Gallagher MLA said.

“Aging schools buildings presents a real challenge for the Government but the continued investment in school capital works reflects the high value that we place on our education system. We need to work to ensure that schools remain a great place for teachers to work and for students to learn. 

“Schools are essential community facilities, we need to make sure that we continue to invest in our asset base of some $605 million in school infrastructure and this extra funding will assist us in doing that,” Ms Gallagher.concluded.

Other capital projects include the rebuilding of Birrigai, completion of the Melrose High gymnasium and Telopea School library, and the detailed design work on a new school for East Gungahlin.  Total capital financing for 2005-06 is $20.7m.
Statement ends