More than 100 South Australian schools will be upgraded in $1.3b program

More than 100 South Australian schools will be upgraded and thousands of construction jobs created as part of a major cash splash.

More than 35 South Australian schools have building upgrades under way as part of a $1.3 billion state government construction program.

The Government anticipates more than $1.1 billion of the program’s total investment will be spent before the end of the 2021-22 financial year, as more than 100 of the state’s 500 public schools are participating.

The projects now under construction are worth more than $740 million and include three new school builds and 33 major upgrades.

Premier Steven Marshall said it was the largest suite of works happening in schools in the state’s history and would create thousands of jobs.

“It will really take our schools up to the standard to where they should be,” Mr Marshall said.

“Part of that is about taking year 7 to secondary schools from 2022 and mainly about upgrading our facilities so we have the very best environment for our students to learn.”

Salisbury High School principal Sylvia Groves said the school’s $10 million upgrade included eight new English rooms, two kitchens, two art rooms and a dance room.

“We will be getting buildings that reflect our needs and will move us forward into delivering a world-class education,” she said.

“It will really allow for a lot of collaborative learning and will change the face of our school and give our community what it deserves.”

Year 10 Salisbury High School student Chloe said she was excited for the new food tech buildings.

“This will give us more opportunity to collaborate with other people due to the open environment, and we’ll have better technology to help us in the class so we can get more out of it,” she said.

Education Minister John Gardner said more than 30 projects were already under way as part of the program.

“We know in areas in the north and east of Adelaide we have population growth and demographic trends that are seeing an over-increase in the number of students in public schools,” he said.

“So we have bigger number coming in, and the schools will have an increased capacity.

“These jobs are critical, and it's about creating world-class facilities for every student in SA, and we want to support their learning.”