The ACT Government has also promised a meals-at-school trial. Photo: James Coleman.
ACT Labor has promised to invest $150 million to upgrade toilets, classrooms, playgrounds, green spaces and staff rooms in public schools across Canberra if re-elected in October 2024.
“We will conduct an audit of all our public schools … to understand the intimate detail of every single school and what the priorities are for every school,” ACT education minister Yvette Berry said in a press conference at Belconnen High School on Monday (23 September).
“We’ll work with schools to ensure it is done on an equity basis so those schools who need the work done quickly and as soon as possible will get priority.”
Minister Berry said $30 million of these funds will be invested to install more heating and air conditioning in classrooms and staff rooms across public schools.
“We’ll make sure schools have heating and cooling that are climate appropriate for both students and staff … we’ll ensure that our staff rooms have appropriate climate levels so that teachers are comfortable, too.”
She said funds will go towards making sure schools are as inclusive as possible.
“Our plan will see accessibility infrastructure upgrades like ramps, lifts, accessible toilets and sensory spaces prioritised,” she said.
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee was not impressed with the promise.
“The fact is this government has been there for 23 years, and the fact that less than a month before the election, it is announcing $150 million for basics like heating, cooling and toilets just shows the utter long-term neglect that this government has embarked on,” she said.
“When you’ve got evidence that is before the parliamentary inquiry that students are being forced to bring blankets to classrooms… that is a massive problem… this just goes to show its admission of utter failure.”
At the Monday press conference, Chief Minister Andrew Barr hit back at his opponents, saying they were the ones making unrealistic promises.
“There’s a lot of big numbers and wild claims that have been made through this campaign that will fail at the first hurdle … we have been clear throughout this process that the commitments we put forward go through a lens of both financial affordability and capacity to deliver,” Mr Barr said.
ACT Labor also says it will work with the local school communities at Melba Copland Secondary School and Fraser Primary School to design and commence upgrades to their campuses.
“In this term, Labor has delivered hundreds of school infrastructure upgrades. From Gungahlin through to Tuggeranong, whether it’s a new shade sail or upgrades to a school hall, we’re continuing to make sure that every public school is a great school,” the party said in a media release.
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