NSW Labor is continuing with its plan to deliver the school infrastructure that all New South Wales schools need, announcing $10 million to upgrade schools in Sydney’s north.
School communities should be supported based on need, not based on where they are located or who their Member of Parliament is.
That’s why Labor will ensure every school is funded according to need and deliver school upgrades at overcapacity schools right across NSW.
This $10 million commitment will go towards new classrooms to alleviate overcrowding, facilities upgrades and replacing demountables with permanent classrooms.
Cammeray Public School
NSW Labor will commit $7 million to upgrade Cammeray Public School which is 25 per cent over its enrolment capacity.
Last year, Cammeray Public School had 781 enrolments despite only having capacity for 624, which meant children were forced out of permanent classrooms and into demountables.
Northbridge Public School
Labor will also commit $3 million to upgrade Northbridge Public School, which is 16 per cent over its capacity.
Last year Northbridge Public School had 484 enrolments despite being built for only 416 students.
This has meant the school is forced to rely on demountables.
Teacher shortages
Not only is the school infrastructure failing to keep pace, the chronic teacher shortage is being felt at both schools.
Labor’s commitment to create 10,000 permanent teaching positions will help schools such as Cammeray Public and Northbridge Public end their reliance on teachers in insecure employment.
At Northbridge Public, more than half its teaching hours come from temporary and casual staff, with 57.5 per cent of teaching hours delivered by a temporary or casual teacher.
At Cammeray Public School, 48.4 per cent of full-time teaching hours come from casual or temporary teachers.
A Fresh Start for Education in NSW
There’s a clear choice at the next election when it comes to education in New South Wales.
More of the same chronic teacher shortages, underfunding of schools and under delivering of school infrastructure under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals.
Or Labor’s plan for a fresh start in education, which includes:
- New co-located preschools, with 100 new public preschools and 50 new and expanded preschools at Catholic and Independent schools;
- Converting 10,000 casual teachers to permanent positions to reduce the reliance on temporary teachers;
- Cutting admin hours for teachers by five hours per week;
- Banning the use of mobile phones in all NSW public schools to reduce distraction, cyberbullying and improve education outcomes;
- Ending the failed overseas recruitment program and redirecting resources towards recruiting NSW teaching students into schools;
- Expanding co-ed school access for all families so every parent has the choice of where to send their children; and
- Labor’s Growth Areas Schools Plan which will deliver new and upgraded schools in growing areas across New South Wales.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“I’m really concerned about the lack of investment in schools across NSW.”
“Under Labor, it doesn’t matter where you live or who your local Member of Parliament is, funding will go where the need is.”
“After 12 years of Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals, we have too many children learning in temporary demountables because schools are overcrowded.”
“NSW Labor will invest in our teachers, invest in our schools and ensure NSW kids have the best start in life.”
Quotes attributable to Prue Car, NSW Shadow Minister for Education:
“Under the Liberals, our public education system has been underfunded, existing schools are overcrowded and there are not enough teachers. NSW’s teachers, students and parents deserve much better than the status quo.”
“Labor will deliver for school communities across the state that have been forgotten and left behind by the NSW Liberal Government.”
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
