Page 4617 - Week 12 - Thursday, 15 October 2009
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We are investing $20 million over 10 years as part of the ACT government’s climate change strategy. This is designed to help both public and non-government schools become carbon neutral by 2017. These are just some of the policies and programs that we are developing to advance education for all students in the ACT.
As well as increasing the number of teachers in our schools, reducing average class sizes and planning for climate change we are continuing to invest in new schools. We have also invested in new performing arts centres at Lyneham and Calwell high schools, as well as Canberra College. We have also invested in new gymnasiums for Belconnen high and Stromlo high. We have invested in new schools, including Harrison high school, Gungahlin college, Kambah P-10 school and the new Kingsford Smith School—new schools where they are needed the most. Each of these schools sets a new standard for teaching and learning facilities in the ACT. This standard will be met by our extensive infrastructure refurbishment program, which totals $90 million over five years.
The ACT is investing almost half a billion dollars in school capital works. In addition, ACT Labor is working with federal Labor to deliver the building the education revolution program. The ACT will receive $230 million for all schools in the ACT. Federal Labor has stipulated tight time frames for the commencement and completion of these projects. ACT Labor is rising to that challenge.
As at the end of September, the ACT has completed new shade structures at Isabella Plains early childhood school and the Turner school, upgrades to the front entries and circulation desks at Narrabundah and Southern Cross early childhood schools, a refurbished hall at Isabella Plains early childhood school, a new technology classroom at Caroline Chisholm, a refurbished gymnasium floor at Dickson College, a music room upgrade at Kaleen high school, classroom refurbishments at Lanyon high school and a new seating system at Lake Ginninderra College.
We are commencing several other large projects, including new multipurpose buildings at Arawang, Evatt, Garran, Harrison, Kaleen, Latham, Monash and Red Hill primary schools; new libraries at Macgregor, Miles Franklin and Turner primary schools; refurbished libraries at Calwell and Duffy primary schools; hall upgrades at Lyons, Narrabundah and Southern Cross early childhood schools; refurbished halls and buildings at Farrer, Giralang and Fraser primary schools; a new multipurpose environmental building at Theodore primary school; new classrooms at O’Connor Co-operative School; a refurbished teaching area and student facilities at Richardson primary school; and a new multipurpose outdoor learning area and classroom refurbishment at Gordon primary school.
I have been very fortunate to be able to go out and have a look at the plans for quite a number of the refurbishments that will be going ahead in my electorate. I certainly know that the schools, the teachers, the students, the parents and the school community are very excited and very pleased that these are going ahead.
The ACT is delivering new and refurbished buildings and schools which will advance education for all students in the ACT and that is evident from what we see. It is definitely evident from what we see on the ground as I and others—and I know you,
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