Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Meng Heang TAK (Clarinda) (19:18): (860) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide the latest update on the Kingswood Primary School upgrade and modernisation. Kingswood Primary School is a fantastic local school located in Dingley Village. Principal Aaron Cox has been a great advocate for this project, along with the school council and the broader school community. This advocacy has been long running, and I have been proud to support this advocacy wherever possible to deliver the upgrade in its entirety based on its original scope. This has included extensive discussions between the minister’s office, the Victorian School Building Authority, Kingswood’s principal and the member for Mordialloc, and it has ultimately seen the announcement of a further $1.293 million to support the Kingswood Primary School in delivering the project. This was on top of a $6.249 million allocation in the 2020–21 state budget. The result is a great result for Kingswood students and for the community, delivering a competition-grade gymnasium which features a flexible learning space suitable for physical education and community activities, a storage area, amenities and a foyer space. Again, I commend the principal and the whole school community. It has been a rewarding experience working with the school leaders to ensure this work helps them to achieve their educational goals and that improvements are targeted where they are needed most. This investment will ensure that every child at Kingswood Primary School has access to a great education, and I am proud to think that the project will be opening soon.

I am also very proud of our work more broadly. Across the Clarinda electorate and across the state our government schools are better equipped to prepare students for the 21st century. Modern learning environments help to develop creative thinking, promote STEM literacy and inspire learning for life and critical thinking for future success. New and modern school buildings contribute to school pride for students, parents and the wider community, building their engagement with education. Finally, by upgrading and modernising schools the Victorian government is transforming communities. By sharing sport, cultural and health facilities schools are becoming neighbourhood hubs, and Kingswood Primary School will be another great example of that. I thank the minister, and I am looking forward to his response.