Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Greater Shepparton Secondary College

Ms SHEED (Shepparton) (15:48): School has resumed after the summer break, and I am happy to see students back in the classroom after two disrupted years. With the help of rapid antigen tests, it is hoped the spread of COVID will be controlled and education will be able to continue in the usual way. I congratulate all of the students in the Shepparton district on their resilience and flexibility in navigating their way through the past two years of schooling. It has truly been challenging.

The new Greater Shepparton Secondary College is being attended by 2223 students, and they are enjoying a world-class school with its wonderful and extensive new facilities. I have heard from many people and students how delighted and excited they were to begin term in a new school. There is plenty of space within the new school building and grounds for the children to socialise, know and use in their own way.

The $120 million Shepparton Education Plan has been a smart investment in the young people in our area, who did the best they could in substandard buildings with outdated facilities due to decades of underfunding in our region’s schools. The community has supported the development of this school, including the Committee for Greater Shepparton and Greater Shepparton City Council and so many of our businesses, who are now interactively involved with the school to provide students with the opportunities they may need to help them determine the sorts of pathways they will have into the future. We want to see all children leave school with a pathway, whatever that is.