Labor schools pledge

Labor candidate for Bass Jordan Crugnale with Theo. 187292_05

By Kyra Gillespie

Labor has promised to build and open 100 new government schools in eight years, if re-elected on 24 November.

Announcing the $850 million investment at Pakenham Primary School on Atlantic Drive on Wednesday 7 October, Premier Daniel Andrews said 45 schools will be opened in the next term, with planning for the next 55 to be underway in that time.

Many of the schools on the list have previously been announced by the State Government, which includes Pakenham Primary School, opening 2019, Pakenham Henry Road Secondary, opening 2021, as well as seven others for Casey.

“A re-elected Labor Government will deliver 100 new schools over the next eight years. This is a profound investment to make sure every child gets every chance in the education state,” Mr Andrews said.

“Because we have the best teachers and the best support staff of anywhere in the country, we then have to make sure the facilities match what they do.”

The package is expected to create around 2500 construction jobs and 1,700 teaching and support staff roles over the next four years.

Joined by Gail Butterworth, the future Pakenham Primary School principal, the Premier said the Pakenham school was an example of those to come.

“Pakenham Primary School is a fantastic investment into the public education system and an example of what we want for every single student across our state.

“I want to thank Gail and her team for having us along; to be the inaugural principal is no small feat so we’re very grateful to you for all the work that you’ve done.

“Next year this will be a loving and caring learning environment made possible because from day one we have chosen to be a government that builds and invests in extra education facilities to make sur every child gets every chance.”

Dealing with the hassle of multiple drop-offs, every new Victorian primary school will come complete with a kindergarten; a move that the Premier said will ease “pain” for parents.

“It’s such a growing population; there’s a classroom and a half being born every week in the Pakenham area so obviously schools are quite big on people’s agenda,” Labor candidate for Bass, Jordan Crugnale said.

“With the Labor Government we’ve got timeframes, it’s in the budget and it will happen.”

The 45 schools include 28 primary schools, a “couple” of P-9 schools, and a special needs school, according to Education Minister James Merlino.

The locations of the additional 55 schools will be wholly determined by growth.