Coburg Special Developmental School says it’s future is in danger with State Government funds
A COBURG school for students with severe disabilities operates without permanent buildings and is pleading for a cash injection to stop its dwindling enrolment.
North West
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A SPECIAL needs school operating without a permanent building is facing an uncertain future due to dwindling enrolments.
Coburg Special Developmental School on, Gaffney St, is run solely out of relocatable buildings, including two classrooms off-site, with uneven play areas causing difficulty for its severely disabled students.
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The school caters for children aged five to 18, without play areas separated for age groups. School enrolment has dropped from 85 four years ago to 54.
School council president Vance Duke said ovens in the school didn’t work and toilet facilities weren’t up to scratch.
Mr Duke called for a commitment from the State Government to improve the school.
“We make the best with what we’ve got but you can’t compete when the other schools have great facilities,” he said.
“You have to reduce your spend when enrolment drops and then its hard to improve the facilities.
“These kids have got a massive battle on their hands and they feel like they don’t matter.”
Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn toured the school with state Education Minister James Merlino in 2015.
Two relocatable buildings were replaced with new portable classrooms — without much-needed shower facilities — following that visit as part of an asbestos removal program.
“I can assure you that the capital needs of all schools including Coburg Special Developmental School will be considered when allocating funding in future Victorian budgets,” Ms Blandthorn said.
Independent candidate for Pascoe Vale Oscar Yildiz said the treatment of the school was not good enough and he would campaign for funding if he was elected.
“If there was some sort of commitment that would be some hope for those poor kids. They don’t even have that,” he said.
Mr Duke said the school catered for low socio-economic families and if it were to shut down, it would place a burden on those families.
“The kids are resilient but this doesn’t give them the education they deserve,” he said.
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