Page 3943 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 5 December 2007
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They have evolved over years to have an important function. They keep children in the one place in those most formative years of their lives when they are making friendships. It is appropriate that they move to a different school for year 7 and year 8 because they are much more developed people; they make new friendships; they need something different. I am not sure that high schools, as they are at the moment, are it, but let us look at the bigger, broader concerns around this debate.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (12.10): I will be supporting Mr Barr’s amendment but not Mrs Dunne’s addition to Mr Barr’s amendment. As a member of the Stanhope government with a keen interest in education and, of course, deputy chair of the education and young people committee, I am pleased to stand in this Assembly and debate education issues. The Stanhope government has already committed to a record investment in education, a record investment in the capital upgrades of older schools and a record investment in new schools.
The second appropriation is the most recent example of a record investment that this government has placed in education. One initiative of the second appropriation in the area of physical education provides $1.2 million over three years to fund three specialist PE teachers to develop the capacity in primary school teachers to deliver quality physical education for students over the next three years. This means that from next year all primary schools will have access to these specialist PE teachers who will provide professional development and support for primary teachers in the area of physical education.
Further to this initiative is $250,000 for the Children’s Physical Activity Foundation to further support physical education and sport in schools. I am sure Mr Stefaniak will be happy to see that.
Mr Barr: And Mr Smyth.
MR GENTLEMAN: Mr Smyth as well. The foundation is aimed at enhancing sport and physical activity in schools and will provide support for schools by way of funding grants for sporting equipment and professional development. These investments will lift the capacity of our teachers to provide high-quality and engaging physical education in every one of our ACT public schools.
The Stanhope government has committed a record $90 million investment over four years to upgrade educational infrastructure across the territory. This investment has been welcomed by school communities and, as all members know, when you are driving around Canberra, especially during school holidays, you will see tradespeople at our preschools and schools undertaking that work.
This is especially true at a school like Giralang primary school, which will now incorporate the preschool within the primary school site. Preschool students attending Giralang in 2008 will be arriving to a newly renovated and exciting space that will make their first impression of ACT public schooling a positive and lasting one.
From May next year, it is expected that construction will start on the new purpose-built gymnasiums at Belconnen and Stromlo schools. This will mean that there is a purpose-built gym at every public high school.
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