Page 2787 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 12 August 2015
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future educational needs for the high school in north Gungahlin and for a P-10 school in Molonglo.
The new school will provide yet another quality learning environment in the Gungahlin region to meet the needs of students in the new suburbs of Moncrieff, Jacka and Taylor. I know Ms Fitzharris has a keen interest in educational opportunities and development in her electorate. The new school in the Gungahlin area will provide for up to 88 preschoolers and 450 primary schoolers. Over $7 million will be provided to support the establishment of the school, including the school leadership team and other operational costs such as building security and maintenance.
It gave me great pleasure to stand with my colleagues from Ginninderra—including you, Mr Assistant Speaker Bourke—when we went to Belconnen high and made the announcement of the upgrades to that high school. You made mention of the investment of over $18 million into Belconnen high. That work has already begun, with the removal of the unused building. Certainly, a very active and positive conversation with the school community will see that $18 million deliver on our commitment.
I say to those opposite that once we go in and do the hard work regarding the actual cost, we will deliver upon our commitment. I think that should be celebrated, and we should be congratulated on delivering that commitment while spending less from the community’s bank account, so to speak.
The focus of the Belconnen high modernisation project is the refurbishment of the student and teacher spaces, outdoor learning spaces and a new school administration building. This will enable the school to provide a 21st century learning environment for students and teachers and modern facilities for local communities to access.
I am also pleased that this budget will deliver on another election commitment through a further $6.5 million invested in the Caroline Chisholm School to enable the construction of a specialist learning centre. I am very pleased to see this investment in my electorate of Brindabella, in the local school in Chisholm. The focus of this initiative is the establishment of a focal point for student learning and teacher professional development and community use. The centre will be designed to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs to students attending Caroline Chisholm School and public schools in the Tuggeranong network, teachers from across the ACT public education system and members of the local community.
In an increasingly connected world it is important that our schools keep up with the latest developments in information technology. That is why in this budget there is provision for over $37 million to support ICT in our schools. That is a serious investment and this funding will ensure that all ACT public school students, across every school, have access to ICT to support their learning.
It will also ensure that schools retain access to reliable ICT network infrastructure that is critical to ensuring effective administration of schools. It will facilitate contemporary learning experience for all students across all curriculum areas,
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