Education Views > Volume 17 - Number 6 >

More maintenance, schools, teachers

Page 5 Vol. 17, No. 6, July 2008

The biggest funding injection in school maintenance in the state's history, four new schools and more teachers were the big-ticket items of the 2008-09 State Budget.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the Budget, delivered in June, furthered the Smart State commitment to build a modern, responsive education system.

"We are determined to establish an education system that equips our children and young people for the challenges of the 21st century," Mr Welford said.

"We are a future-focused government and our students are the future of Queensland." Department of Education, Training and the Arts Director-General Rachel Hunter said the Budget's initiatives would assist us to achieve our goal of building a clever, skilled and creative Queensland.

Mrs Hunter said the Budget committed $5.78 billion in recurrent funding and $498.3 million in capital funding to the education sector. She said Education Queensland would invest $125.1 million in school maintenance, which includes $61.6 million through State Schools of Tomorrow.

"There are 22,000 school buildings across the state so it's important we keep up with vital repairs and improvements," she said. Mrs Hunter said nearly half a million young Queenslanders were enrolled in state schools.

"During the past 10 years the student population has increased by nearly 6 per cent which is expected to continue, particularly in the southeast," she said.

"It's important we have safe and comfortable classrooms and recreational areas for staff and students."

Mr Welford said some of Queensland's state schools were more than 100 years old." "Queensland's unrelenting growth places even more pressure on our older buildings and facilities so this massive funding boost will make a difference."

Mrs Hunter said $26.2 million would be spent acquiring, refurbishing and maintaining staff accommodation, including doubling the maintenance budget for teacher accommodation to more than $10 million.

"In 2008-09, we are investing $89.6 million for four new schools to cater for the growing population in the south-east corner.

"All schools will share in the $10 million grant for minor works program which they can use for minor projects."

"The department will also invest $150 million as part of the $850 million, five-year State Schools of Tomorrow initiative to deliver new and renewed facilities which support modern teaching methods to some older schools."

Mrs Hunter said up to 321 full-time equivalent staff, including 270 teachers and teacher aides, would be employed in 2008-09. "The professionalism of state school teachers will be enhanced through a $47 million commitment in professional development," she said.

The vodcast of Mrs Hunter's Budget briefing to staff is available on the Department of Education, Training and the Arts website.

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