Page 156 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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to continue to hear that feedback from the community. That will be an ongoing process because detailed project design still has a long way to go.
Education—2020 school year preparation
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, how does the government ensure that every child has a place that meets their needs in their local public school?
MS BERRY: I thank the member for the question. Last week 49,000 students and 3,800 educators started their year at 88 ACT public schools. The ACT government has been committed to ensuring that every public school is a great school that has the infrastructure to support high quality education. The government has been upgrading and expanding ACT public schools across the territory in preparation for the 2020 school year.
High quality air-conditioned transportable learning spaces is one way the government is making sure that schools have the facilities they need. The ACT government installed transportable learning spaces at Lyneham High School, Forrest Primary School and Telopea Park School for the start of the 2020 school year. This is part of the government’s $8.5 million investment in additional accommodation for Canberra schools, which will see up to 350 additional places in public schools over the next two years. The transportable learning spaces of today are spacious, comfortable learning environments. They are modern, fully insulated and designed to meet current energy targets, with all the same comforts and technical infrastructure as a permanent building.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how does the government ensure that every child has what they need to start school?
MS BERRY: Back to school should not be an expensive time. The ACT government believes in providing equitable access to the tools that students need to give them equal opportunity to learn. Irrespective of family circumstances, the government is helping every student to have an equal chance to learn.
The ACT government has provided Chromebooks to students entering year 7 as well as new students in years 8 to 12 who are in the public secondary school system—approximately 4,200 devices as part of this program of work. Last week I visited Wanniassa school’s senior campus to hand out new Chromebooks to their new year 7 students, who were beside themselves with excitement and looking at the opportunities these devices would give them to do their homework and study at school.
All ACT government schools are resourced to assist students to access everyday essentials. This provision forms part of public education’s important objective of making access to education more equitable for all students, regardless of their personal circumstances.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, how are students and staff being supported by schools after the unprecedented summer break this year?
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