Parramatta East Public School: Premier promises ‘less stress’ in 2020

Concerned parents at an overcrowded western Sydney school have been promised much-needed relief next year, but the Opposition says there is still no upgrade plan.

Parramatta East Public parent Merindah Thornton with Opposition Education spokeswoman Prue Car outside Parliament House today.

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has moved to assure parents that “relief is just around the corner” for Parramatta East Public School as it buckles under a sea of demountables and a lack of toilets for children.

The Opposition grilled the Premier in Question Time today on the school’s overcrowding issues after revelations in the Advertiser yesterday on how 23 of its 28 classrooms were now demountables amid shrinking playgrounds.

With several parents from Parramatta East Public in the public gallery, Ms Berejiklian was initially evasive about making specific reference to the school, but later said it would “feel less stress” in 2020.

The student population has more than doubled in the past decade at the school, with 617 enrolments this year.

Even more demountables were trucked into Parramatta East Public School last week.

“I’d like to say to those parents and community leaders who made the trip to parliament today that our government is listening to your concerns and that you will feel less stress and less pressure at your school at the beginning of next year when a brand new school with a thousand kids nearby will be opening,” the Premier said.

“But I want to thank you for what you do in the community. Please know we are listening to your concerns and please know that relief is just around the corner.”

Opposition Education spokeswoman Prue Car hit out at the Premier for “completely ignoring parents’ concerns about overcrowding and lack of facilities at Parramatta East”.

“Children are going to a school bursting at the seams and students are lining up to use the toilets,” Ms Car said. “And all the Premier can do is dismiss these very real concerns. How arrogant.”

The plight of Parramatta East Public came into sharp focus this week after parent Linda Ka delivered a petition with 1382 signatures to Parramatta State Liberal MP Geoff Lee calling for a long-term solution to fix the 70-year-old school.

Linda Ka with her son Lewis and other concerned parents with their children at Parramatta East Public School. (AAP IMAGE / Carmela Roche)

Dr Ka said it was “devastating” for parents to see how their school was being brushed in favour of the neighbouring Arthur Phillip redevelopment, where the high-rise primary and secondary schools on Macquarie St are set to open early next year after a $225 million cost blowout.