NSW budget 2017: $4.2bn for schools hailed as ‘revolutionary’

Dominic Perrottet has claimed a ‘real education revolution’, injecting a record $4.2bn into education infrastructure.

Education Minister Rob Stokes.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has claimed a “real education revolution” in his first budget, injecting a record $4.2 billion over forward estimates into NSW education ­infrastructure for the next four years.

With enrolments in the state’s public schools set to rise by 164,000 students by 2031, Mr Perrottet has announced the government will start more than 120 new school projects in the next two years, creating 1500 extra classrooms and 32,000 student places.

Sixteen new schools will be built in Sydney growth areas, including Catherine Field, Marsden Park, Ryde, Penrith and Sydney Olympic Park.

New or major rebuilds of primary schools will include Kent Road, Eastwood, Schofields, Riverbank, Greystanes and Liverpool.

Regional areas, including Warnervale and Tweed Heads, will also benefit, while almost $412 million will go to clearing school maintenance backlogs, including fixing toilet blocks and fencing.

That brings the government’s investment in backlog maintenance to $747m over the next four years. Mr Perrottet also promised 1000 new teachers for public schools in 2017-18.

“This record investment by the NSW government will ensure we have the schools and the resources we need to meet the challenges of the future,” the Treasurer said.

Tackling schoolyard bullying, the government has committed $6.1m over three years to support schools, students and parents with anti-bullying strategies.

Student counselling and wellbeing services will also receive $50m during next financial year as part of the broader $167m Supported Students, Successful Students ­program.

The government has set aside $149m for education standards to support assessment of school curriculum content, and $46m will be spent over four years to boost wireless access and internet ­capacity for 900 regional schools.

“This is an investment in the ­future of our state that will transform public education,” said Education Minister Rob Stokes.

Mr Perrottet also solidified the state government’s six-year commitment to the Gonski reform model, which expires at the end of 2019.

The budget contains continued funding for teachers’ professional development through the $224m Quality Teaching, Successful Students program and also commits to continued funding for the OCHRE program, which includes indigenous language classes.

The 2017-18 budget also provides $1.2bn in funding support for non-government schools, including increasing the Building Grants Assistance Scheme to help mitigate the stresses of their high ­enrolment growth.