Premier announces $6b funding for new schools in 10 suburbs

The NSW government has announced it will build new schools in 10 suburbs and upgrade many more. Is your suburb among them?

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Rob Stokes at Penrith Public School to announce education funding.

MORE than $6 billion will be spent over the next four years building new schools and upgrading existing ones, the state government announced today.

The money from the upcoming state Budget includes 10 new schools and 10 new upgrades, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Penrith MP Stuart Ayres and Education Minister Rob Stokes announce the Budget funding at Penrith Public School today. Picture: Danny Aarons

The funding boost is in addition to $500 million to be spent on airconditioning 1000 of the state’s hottest schools.

Soaring enrolments, expected to hit 164,000 students by 2031, means a total of 170 schools will benefit from the funding.

“We are in the midst of a school building program NSW has never before experienced and this year’s budget takes this to a whole new level,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The new schools will be built in areas based on projected future enrolment growth. Picture: Danny Aarons

New schools will be built at Green Square, Edmondson Park, Gregory Hills, Macquarie Park and Rhodes East.

Speaking at Penrith Public School today, which will receive more airconditioning classrooms under the announcement, Education Minster Rob Stokes said the airconditioning policy would prioritise classrooms in the hottest part of the state.

They also announced airconditioning for 1000 of the school’s hottest schools.

“But we’re also recognising schools under that level may also have reasonable grounds to ask for airconditioning to be installed as well,” he said.

“We also recognise it’s not just temperature — there are issues like microclimate, humidity and a whole range of other issues, for example the number of children with special needs in a particular classroom environment.”

Education Minister Rob Stokes at the press conference

“That can all mean they also require airconditioning, even if they are in slightly cooler parts of the state. “It’s an expansive requirement.

“It’s based on hard science but it also allows flexibility through a transparent process to ensure that every school can potentially benefit — up to a 1000 schools across NSW.”

Principal Chantal Beltran guided the Premier and ministers around Penrith Public School to meet students.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley said the government was playing catch up on his $300 million airconditioning policy from March, which they had previously dismissed.

“As we approach the Liberal National government’s eighth Budget it is worth remembering that they have closed 21 more schools than they have opened. Today’s announcement is an admission of failure.

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“The government rubbished our airconditioning policy yet now they are adopting it. I welcome their announcement and call on them to adopt more of our policies.”

Opposition education spokesman Jihad Dib said “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and on a number of issues now, it has become ever clearer that Labor leads the field when it comes to education policy for this state”.

NEW SCHOOL PROJECTS

Edmondson Park (primary and high schools) — Macquarie Fields

Green Square (primary school) — Heffron

Gregory Hills (primary school) — Camden

Murrumbateman (primary school) — Goulburn

Rhodes East (primary school) — Drummoyne

Macquarie Park Education Precinct (primary and high schools) — Ryde

Middle Head (new environmental education outreach centre) — North Shore

Newcastle Education Precinct (new education precinct including new public school and upgrading Newcastle High School) — Newcastle

St Leonards Education Precinct (primary and high schools) — Willoughby

Westmead (primary school) — Seven Hills/Granville

SCHOOL UPGRADE PROJECTS

Birrong Boys and Girls High Schools — Bankstown

Carlingford West Public School and Cumberland High — Parramatta

Cecil Hills High School — Mulgoa

Darcy Road Public School — Seven Hills

Liverpool Boys and Girls High Schools — Liverpool

Narrabeen Education Precinct (new education precinct including expanding Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High School) — Pittwater

Neutral Bay Public School — North Shore

Punchbowl Public School — Lakemba

Randwick Girls and Boys High — Coogee

Cecil Hills High School will be expanded to provide extra permanent teaching spaces and core facilities.

Darcy Road Public School will be expanded to provided extra permanent teaching spaces and core facilities.

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