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Record budget promises renewed schools, more teachers

16 June 2011

Record budget promises renewed schools, more teachers

A record operational budget of almost $7.4 billion in 2011-12 will continue Queensland's education reform agenda to give all young Queenslanders a flying start to learning and life.

Education Minister Cameron Dick said the investment would deliver new and renewed schools, more teachers and teacher aides and continued support for students with special needs.

He said the budget also included funds to commence the transition of Year 7 to high school in 2015, along with a substantial boost to maintenance funding.

'Queensland already has a first-class education system and this record funding, which represents an increase of almost 9 per cent, will help us to improve it even more,' Mr Dick said.

'Since 1998, the Queensland Government has overseen a dramatic transformation in our education system – including our learning-or-earning reforms, the introduction of Prep and building towards universal access to kindergarten.

'Our commitment to reform continues in 2011-12 as we take the first steps towards transitioning Year 7 to high school in 2015.'

Mr Dick said the Government's commitment of $321 million to provide up to 240 kindergarten services by 2014 would be continued and ensure 85 new kindergarten services were operational by the end of 2012, including fast-tracking 40 services originally scheduled for 2013 and 2014.

'We'll also employ up to 300 extra full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers and teacher aides in state schools to meet enrolment growth and support students with special needs.

'This means the Queensland Government has created more than 10,000 new teacher and teacher aide positions in state schools since 1998.

'And we will create an extra 5000 teacher aide hours each week by investing $24.5 million to complete our $43 million, three-year commitment for an additional 15,000 teacher hours weekly to support Prep to Year 7 students.'

Mr Dick said the State Government would also spend more than $487 million on infrastructure in schools and kindergartens.

'Our infrastructure investment for 2011-12 includes $132.8 million for a new school at Mango Hill, the relocation of Tagai State College's Mer campus, staged work at four schools, and new land and more classrooms in growth areas,' he said.

'We've also increased school maintenance funding to a record $134.8 million, including a special injection of $50 million to target maintenance priorities as part of the State School Investment Program.

'This investment builds on the five-year State Schools of Tomorrow initiative, which resulted in more than 1620 classroom refurbishments, about 150 science lab refurbishments and new school facilities around the State.'