Pupil’s powerful plea for funding

Member for Gembrook Brad Battin and Emerald Secondary College principal Jodie Doble at the school. 176888_02

By Rowan Forster

 A Year 7 student has penned a powerful letter to Gembrook MP Brad Battin, detailing the plight of Emerald Secondary College’s deteriorating infrastructure.

Jaicob Barrot, 13, expressed his concerns about crumbling walls, collapsing ceilings and an overall lack of support provided by the Department of Education.

He questioned Victoria’s label as the “Education State”, given the school’s repeated pleas for assistance falling on deaf ears.

“Doesn’t everyone have the right to an education, yet how can we learn when the walls are crumbling around us,” he said.

“After all, Victoria is supposedly the Education State.

“We often spend classes restricted to certain things when a projector isn’t working, gas won’t flow, and everything is getting out of hand,” he said.

“Science labs have been shut due to old construction methods recently proven to be hazardous meaning we only just have enough classrooms.”

It comes after a series of reports by the Gazette, highlighting issues at Emerald Secondary due to the school’s lack of financial support from the State Government.

In April, the Department of Education confirmed student aide positions had been slashed by almost half.

Shortly after, plaster collapsed from a science room ceiling, narrowly avoiding injury to a pupil.

The Department of Education has repeatedly hosed down concerns with the school’s infrastructure, citing previous investments from the Andrews Government.

“The Victorian Government has already provided $500,000 to Emerald Secondary College to address maintenance issues at the school including roof maintenance and upgrades to four classrooms,” a spokeswoman said.

“This is on top of $1.5 million previously provided to the school for an Inclusion and Learning Centre, modernising the library and redevelopment of the technology, performing arts and canteen areas.

“The project also included the repair and upgrade of storm water drains, pipes, roofs, windows and doors.”

Mr Battin suspects the school would need $5 million – rather than $500,000 – to bring its facilities up to scratch.