Shadow Minister: Our country students deserve a strong focus from the government on bringing their schools up to modern standards.

The state government has announced a record $42.7million funding for more than 80 public schools across the state to fix roofs, reseal bitumen, build fences, and upgrade ageing infrastructure.

But how much of this funding would actually trickle down to assist our public schools with infrastructure upgrades?

Actually, no public schools in Naracoorte, Lucindale, Penola, Padthaway, and Frances are beneficiaries of this record funding this time.

The [Naracoorte] News asked the education minister to provide a breakdown of the funding and how much would be given to our public schools for infrastructure upgrades.

In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said the targeted maintenance program does include a couple of projects in our area (mid-South East).

“Bordertown High School is among eight sites having upgrades to meet the needs of students with disability (the total value for this work – across all 8 sites – being $3,975,000,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the Tintinara Area School is among 13 sites having structural remediation works with the total value of works being $4,725,770.

“The $42.7 million program of work is just one way in which the State Government provides for the repair, maintenance, uplift and improvement of the 900 schools and pre-schools across the state, as part of its 20-year Infrastructure Plan.

“This is not a finite list of either capital works, or other projects being carried out by the Department for Education; rather, a funding boost for targeted maintenance.

“Overall, the 20-Year Infrastructure Plan provides a comprehensive strategy on how funding to replace aged buildings will be prioritised as it becomes available,” the spokesperson stated.

Calling it a targeted maintenance program, Minister for Education, Training, and Skills Blair Boyer said the funding will support 91 projects across 82 sites.

Mr Boyer said the plan, released earlier this year, outlined an approach to uplift schools and preschools to ensure sites are meeting the needs of local families.

Investment has been directed to sites with the greatest need, determined by detailed analysis of enrolment trends and forecasts, asset quality and performance, and school improvement indicators.

According to the Department of Education, work with focus groups identified that ageing facilities could be a deterrent for parents when looking to enrol their children.

“The Malinauskas Labor Government knows that education and making every school a great school is not just about one element, but that high-quality, fit-for-purpose infrastructure provides the foundation for effective teaching and improving outcomes,” the minister said.

“With more than 900 public schools, preschools, and children’s centres, the Education Department holds a substantial infrastructure portfolio. There has been continued underinvestment for a long period of time – particularly given the average age of school infrastructure is about 44 years old.

He said the 20-Year Infrastructure Plan was not a list of schools but a comprehensive strategy on how funding to replace aged buildings will be prioritised as it becomes available.

“This much-needed funding boost to address a backlog of targeted maintenance work will help address urgent projects across our ageing infrastructure, helping to improve working conditions and in turn support education outcomes.”

Shadow Minister for Education responds

Speaking to The [Naracoorte] News, Shadow Minister for Education John Gardner said our country-schools faced significant infrastructure challenges.

“But our country students deserve a strong focus from the government on bringing their schools up to modern standards so that they don’t miss out on any of the opportunities available to them to their city cousins,” Mr Gardner said.

He welcomes the funding, noting that the funding allocation seems to be within the department’s standard budget allocation, rather than this being a provision of new money for schools from the budget.

“It’s pleasing to note that some of these structural issues like bitumen, roofing, and fences are being addressed.

“Sometimes it is the little things in schools that can bring the schools up to standard, and sometimes it is the bigger infrastructure projects that are required.

“Over the coming years, we need to ensure that our country schools’ benefit from both,” Mr Gardner said.

This newspaper also contacted the Naracoorte High School and the Lucindale Area School on 18/10/24 for feedback and comments on the infrastructural challenges facing them.

The Naracoorte High School referred all queries to the Department of Education. It is understood that school principals are not allowed to talk to the media directly.

The principal of the Lucindale Area School was not available to talk to us. A call-back message was left, but no calls were received by the time this edition went to press.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte News.