Page 1206 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The important question is: what are we doing about the anticipated pressures in some schools in some areas? That I consider a fair question and one that I am happy to start to address today, with further information I propose to bring back to the Assembly in June, under my amendment.
One of my first official duties in this role was to open the Charles Weston Primary School which will provide a modern education environment over the years for up to 700 students as well as for up to 132 preschoolers in the new and developing area of the Molonglo Valley. The 2015-16 ACT budget provides $28.6 million for the construction of a new primary school in Taylor, in north Gungahlin, to cater for an estimated 540 students. This comprises 450 primary school students and 88 preschoolers. These are examples where forward planning is working effectively to get the infrastructure in place in time for growing areas. We will continue to invest in school infrastructure, both expansion of existing schools and the construction of new schools as needed.
But there are other strategies that we can explore as challenges provide a fertile ground for innovation in the right hands. It is true that Gungahlin in particular is rapidly growing and there is a comparative growth in student enrolments. I think it is also fair to say that the overall population boom in the north of Canberra has taken a few demographers by surprise and is something that a few portfolio areas are working on to ensure we can maintain the level of service that Canberrans expect.
In the education portfolio, I can say with confidence that the government is actively pursuing short, medium and long-term responses to the pressures. The directorate has taken a proactive response to fully utilising the unique design of the Gungahlin College and its integrated proximity to the local library and CIT and has allowed for use of shared space, not as a crisis overflow response but to engage students with some different learning options, including what I have been advised are well-received classes operating outside usual hours. I was chatting to some teenagers from Gungahlin College recently and they were certainly appreciative of actually having classes at later hours and not having to get up so early in the morning. Not to get too much into the cliche of teenagers but they certainly do seem to appreciate it.
We are also looking at the relationships between aligned junior and senior schools to explore shared use of facilities and of course we are looking at a range of solutions through the budget development process.
In relation to Garran, an example that has had some particular exposure, we are working through increased enrolments, in collaboration with teachers, the union, parents and carers and the school community, to ensure that every student continues to receive the best possible education. Let me briefly outline what is involved in the situation discussed in the news regarding Garran’s capacity. Garran Primary School has a total capacity of 550 kindergarten to year 6 students and the February 2016 census data shows the school having 551 K-6 students. I can assure the Assembly and the school community that yes there is room for that one extra student, and this will have little to no material impact on the school.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video