Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Rowville electorate schools funding

Mr WELLS (Rowville) (12:56): This statement condemns the Andrews Labor government’s failure to spend a cent on schools in the Rowville electorate in the May budget. It is another broken promise from the Premier who claimed he would govern for all Victorians.

Thousands of students in schools across Knox, including Scoresby Secondary College and Rowville Secondary College, have missed out on funding in the last eight years of Labor. Students in the Rowville electorate deserve access to a decent education as much as any other student, but there is no funding for Carrington, Heany Park or Karoo and nothing for Knox Gardens, Wantirna South or Knox Park primary schools, while Lysterfield, Park Ridge, Rowville and Scoresby primary schools and St Joseph’s, St Jude’s and St Simon’s have received absolutely nothing.

Students who are back at school after the COVID lockdown are now trying to catch up on their studies in run-down old classrooms without the facilities they need to get the most out of their education. Teachers who have done their utmost through lockdowns to teach kids through online learning are now back in tired buildings that are not fit for purpose or are falling apart. It is simply not fair.

How much does the Labor government care if students and their hardworking teachers in Knox receive a quality education with clean, safe and modern classrooms to learn in? If this budget is any reflection of the government’s priorities, the answer is zero.