Media Release
Senator Helen Polley
     Labor Senator for Tasmania
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                             DATE 03/03/10
 
Official Opening of Kings Meadows High School Upgrades
 
New learning facilities were officially opened at Kings Meadows High School by Senator Polley today.
 
Senator Polley opened the new facilities on behalf of the Australian Government Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP. 
 
“These outstanding facilities will help ensure all students at Kings Meadows High School are encouraged to realise their full potential and attain their goals.” Senator Polley said.
 
The project, totalling $1.279 million, was funded by the Australian Government under the Capital Grants Program.
 
Senator Polley said the project demonstrated the Australian Government’s commitment to providing every student with the best possible learning environment through the provision of these new/updated facilities.
 
The Australian Government provides significant funding under the Capital Grants Program to support the construction and upgrading of schools in partnership with non government school authorities and school communities, which have primary responsibility for providing, maintaining and upgrading their school facilities.
 
The Government is also implementing many new initiatives including:
 
·         The Australian Government is investing a further $16.2 billion to boost the Education Revolution over the next three years. Building the Education Revolution (BER) began this year, and provides infrastructure funding so each of Australia’s 9540 schools can meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers. This is a critical component of the Government’s economic stimulus package, giving our schools the attention they so richly deserve. BER has three elements:
  • Primary Schools for the 21st Century: $14.1 billion to build or refurbish large scale infrastructure in primary schools, K–12s (primary component) and special schools, including libraries, halls and classrooms.
  • Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools: $821.8 million to build science laboratories or language learning centres in our secondary schools. Funding will be allocated on the basis of demonstrated need.
  • National School Pride Program: $1.3 billion to refurbish and renew existing infrastructure and build minor infrastructure in all schools.
 
·         The BER also brings forward $110 million to fund quality proposals under the Trade Training Centres in Schools program. The Program will provide $2.5 billion over 10 years to enable secondary schools across Australia to apply for funding of between $500 000 and $1.5 million for Trade Training Centres.
 
·         The Australian Government will invest $2 billion in the Digital Education Revolution to improve secondary school student access to ICT and equip them for the jobs of the future. This includes $1.9 billion over six years (2008–2013) through the National Secondary School Computer Fund (the Fund), to provide for new or upgraded information and communications technology (ICT) for secondary schools with students in years 9 to 12. Another important element of the Digital Education Revolution is the investment of up to $100 million to contribute to the provision of broadband connections to schools through the Fibre Connections to Schools initiative.
 
The Rudd Government's Education Revolution will make Australia the best educated country with the most skilled, best trained workforce in the world. It will revolutionise education investment, standards and outcomes.
 
For additional comments, please do not hesitate to contact Sancia Colgrave on (03) 6331 2599.