Page 2788 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 13 August 2019
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commitment to permanently expand the school from a P-2 school to a P-6 school and will increase the overall capacity of the school to around 600 students. For one of the fastest growing regions in Australia this investment in government schools is really important.
It is also important that we continue to plan for growth throughout the territory, and that is why the government is investing $6.5 million into feasibility studies and planning for future growth. This will allow the government to strategically plan for student growth across Canberra not only in new suburbs but also in areas like the inner north, Belconnen and the south of Canberra.
On 31 July 2018, I announced that the government was working towards introducing the phased implementation of 15 hours per week, 600 hours per year, of free, quality early childhood education for three-year-old children in the ACT. The government recognises the importance of early childhood education in ensuring that all children are set up to learn for life.
The government is also investing $10.9 million over four years to deliver the first phase of the early childhood strategy that will take this work forward. Importantly, the strategy will focus on increasing access, equity and affordability of early childhood education, enhancing the workforce and qualifications, ensuring seamless transitions into school, and maximising the benefit to children from this important investment in their early years.
The ACT continues to provide one of the best education systems in the country. The budget invests in teachers and supports more students with complex needs, ensuring that ACT public schools keep getting better. The ACT community values the increasingly strong culture of inclusion in ACT public schools. It is an area of focus because all children, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances, are entitled to a great education and the life chances that flow from it. To achieve this, the government is providing $41.56 million in ongoing additional needs-based funding to support students to be included and part of school life.
Student wellbeing and mental health will also be supported through $3 million in ongoing funding to employ an additional five full time psychologists by 2020 as part of the government’s ongoing election commitment. Meeting students’ needs also means providing pathways for students identified as gifted and talented. This budget will deliver an accelerated pathway for gifted and talented students to the University of Canberra, providing those students with options to get a head start on their university studies.
Finally I highlight a significant investment included in the 2019-20 budget—the transition of externally contracted school cleaning services to a cleaning workforce within the Education Directorate. This investment is significant because it goes to the heart of the ACT community. Cleaners are often vulnerable members of the community and, historically, these arrangements have presented concerns about contractors adhering to their legislative responsibilities and demonstrating their commitment to adequately support their workers.
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