Page 1914 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 May 2009
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In addition, this Budget provides $3.1 million over four years for eight additional support staff for students with English as a Second Language.
To boost the numbers of Indigenous teachers and education professionals, funding of $691,000 over four years is provided for ten scholarships and three university scholarships to study teaching.
This Budget also invests $984,000 over four years for the provision of programs for gifted and talented students. This funding will provide additional training for teachers and support for parents.
Primary schools in the ACT will benefit from access to ICT in this Budget. Funding of $5 million over three years is being provided to replace old computers, and install new technologies including smart-boards, in our public schools, with non-Government schools receiving over $2.5 million in 2009-10 to purchase and install ICT equipment.
In addition, 5,837 computers will be funded through the Commonwealth’s Digital Education Revolution Partnership through which the ACT received $39.5 million over five years.
We are also continuing the improvement of school facilities with a capital investment in education of over $206 million.
A new high school, accommodating 800 students, will be built in Harrison, with an investment of $44 million. The Gungahlin College will benefit from $5.4 million additional funding in 2010-11 for community library and CIT facilities at the College. Canberra College will receive a new $7.6 million performing arts centre, with specialist space for music, dance, drama and performance.
This significant capital investment will also benefit the environment, with $2 million for water tanks at schools and another $2 million for the installation of solar panels.
Young people in training
Mr Speaker, support is also being provided for a range of initiatives in this Budget to help build the productive capacity of the ACT workforce, with a particular focus on young people.
The Government recognises that young people could become long-term casualties of the financial downturn, and is working to assist every young person to access an education or training place.
Significant funding has been provided in this Budget for initiatives to increase young people’s engagement with education, training and employment pathways.
Through the COAG Productivity Places Program, the ACT will deliver up to an additional 10,000 training places over four years for existing workers and job seekers,
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