by Cam Lucadou-Wells
The State Government has kept election promises for free three-year-old kinder, a new Tech School and school upgrades in the 2023-’24 State Budget.
However it has been accused of “taxing” private schools and not doing enough to retain “burnt out” staff.
Among the kept promises were $24.2 million over three years for an upgrade of Hallam Secondary College and $5.34 million for a canteen, playground and sport facilities at Keysborough Gardens Primary School.
At Hallam Secondary College, a competition-grade gymnasium, a new administration building and a new Year 7 to 9 building will be built.
“Our investment in upgrades to Hallam Secondary College will increase enrolment capacity by 225 spaces – exactly what our growing community needs,” Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson says.
James Cook Primary School and Lyndhurst Secondary College were promised multi-million-dollar upgrades at the state election and received funds for planning.
Six new Tech Schools will be built including in Dandenong and Frankston, joining an existing campus in Casey.
They will work with local secondary schools and industry to provide practical, career-linked STEM education in renewable energy areas such as advanced battery technology, hydrogen generation, as well as robotics and advanced manufacturing.
The Government also will add a further $1.5 billion to expand its free three-year-old kinder, Best Start and Best Life programs.
It will support the Coleman Foundation with its Our Place model at Doveton College.
Berwick MP Brad Battin said the Government was “taxing“ independent schools to solve its “financial mess”.
The Government removed payroll tax exemptions from more than 110 independent schools, leading to fee increases for families, according to the Opposition.
“This desperate and heartless tax grab will see jobs go, increase pressure on the cost of living for many families and will push some schools to choose to cut costs or increase classes, both resulting in worse outcomes.”
The Australian Education Union state branch claimed there was a cut to public school funding and Tafe and a failure to address teacher shortages.
The Government invested a further $204.8 million in attracting and retaining staff, and providing more support for pre-service teachers.
However, AEU state president Meredith Peace said bold reforms and strategies such as retention payments and financial incentives for pre-service teachers were needed.
“We have many public schools in Victoria right now that do not have fully qualified teachers in front of classrooms.
“Teacher shortages are leaving many students in public schools high and dry without the support they need and contributing to the escalating workloads experienced by existing public school staff, causing them to burn out and walk away from their profession.”
As for Tafe, Ms Peace said: “Fee-free TAFE sounds good in a headline. But the reality is, TAFE in Victoria is not funded for the actual cost of course delivery.”
The ongoing rollout of Free Kinder was bringing many positive changes for children, families and the early childhood education workforce, she said.
