Education big election issue in Macedon

CANDIDATES for the seat of Macedon have been keen to spruik their policies and vision for education and training in the lead-up to the state election.

Generic image of teacher teaching students inside school classroom.

CANDIDATES for the seat of Macedon have been keen to spruik their policies and vision for education and training in the lead-up to the state election.

Three of the four candidates involved in this year’s race for the marginal seat offered their views to Leader in candid questions without notice.

Education remains a pivotal issue.

Experienced former upper house parliamentarian and Woodend resident Donna Petrovich, who is the Liberal candidate, said the Coalition Government had a fine track record on education.

WHAT IS YOUR KEY ELECTION ISSUE IN MACEDON? TELL US BELOW

“When we came to government in 2010 there was a $420 million maintenance black hole left by the ALP after 11 years of government and (we) set upon fixing that in a systematic way,” Ms Petrovich said.

“We have funded Kyneton Secondary College, a new art room for New Gisborne Primary School, Daylesford Secondary College — $10 million — that was in a terrible, terrible way, as were the two schools in Kyneton.”

“When we came to government in 2010 there was a $420 million maintenance black hole left by the ALP after 11 years of government and (we) set upon fixing that in a systematic way,” — Donna Petrovich, Macedon state Liberal candidate

Labor candidate Mary-Anne Thomas said her party’s commitment for a trade centre based at Kyneton Secondary College would bring TAFE education back to the region.

“The education system should be the measure of success for any state government,” Ms Thomas said.

Ms Thomas said Labor was intent on addressing an “achievement gap” that saw fewer country students complete Year 12 than their city counterparts.

“The education system should be the measure of success for any state government,” — Mary-Anne Thomas, Macedon state Labor candidate

Greens candidate Neil Barker said with TAFE and university education becoming more difficult to access for young people, the entire education system needed to be built from the ground up.

The party has a commitment to free university education and the Gonski education review.

“We need to have primary and secondary education up to the level of some of the best private schools and that is not happening,” Mr Barker said.

Leader also sought comment from Family First candidate Peter Harland but a party official said he was unavailable.