Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Adjournment

Caulfield electorate schools

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (19:00): (101) My adjournment today is to the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to meet with local schools in my electorate to discuss the importance of funding and development plans in a number of our key schools. We have some great schools in Caulfield. Many of those schools are over 100 years old and unfortunately have not had the funding and the support required to keep up with today’s needs. The schools are in desperate need of funding to create learning environments that enable teachers and educators to perform to their best potential and also to support our kids and our families.

At the election the Liberal–Nationals committed to a range of different upgrades and plans to revitalise the great local schools in the Caulfield community, including $11.3 million for Caulfield Junior College for the first-stage upgrades, which would include a brand new school gymnasium and performing arts and assembly area, four specialist classrooms, two outdoor hardcourts and a new play field. This is a great school and a great opportunity. I know at the moment they have got issues in terms of some of the classrooms are not fit for purpose. We are going through and trying to work out how to make good on the maintenance issues with that particular school, so it would be great to get the minister to come down and look at Caulfield Junior College. With Ripponlea Primary School, we promised $5 million for refurbishment of classrooms for students as part of a stage 1 upgrade, a new STEM science centre and an upgrade of their Building the Education Revolution building to increase space as a multipurpose hall and a stage theatre for additional assemblies. At the moment Ripponlea Primary School are having their assemblies out in the playground area with no cover and are experiencing all kinds of weather conditions. They desperately need that support.

In addition to that, we have $5 million to deliver much-needed upgrades at Caulfield Primary School and $10 million for Caulfield South Primary School, which I know the government has committed to, but that includes things like proper disability access, a multipurpose gymnasium and a STEM centre. These are important upgrades. We need to ensure we get it right and we need to ensure that we have ample spaces for our kids, for our families and for our teachers to be able to work in, so I ask that the minister join with me to meet with these school communities in my electorate to see the important work that is needed to get our schools fit for purpose.