Published Thursday, 21 December, 2006 at 05:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
RENEWAL ANNOUNCED FOR QUEENSLAND STATE SCHOOLS
A landmark school renewal program to begin in 2007 will ensure state schools can provide state-of-the-art educational facilities to meet the needs of Queensland communities.
Premier Peter Beattie said the $850 million State Schools of Tomorrow initiative would be piloted in a number of school clusters, to be announced early in the new school year.
“This program is about ensuring that Queensland’s state schools can provide excellent facilities and educational opportunities for young people,” Mr Beattie said.
“State Schools of Tomorrow gives us an opportunity to assess how well our current school facilities are meeting the needs of students and communities.
“Dramatic changes to Queensland’s population over recent years have meant that the locations of schools and populations don’t always match.”
The Premier said the State Schools of Tomorrow project was part of the Queensland Government’s $1 billion investment in the Tomorrow’s Schools – Providing for a Smarter Future initiative, announced in the 2006-07 State Budget.
“The package provides $900 million to modernise state school resources and facilities and $100 million for the non-state sector over a five-year period,” he said.
Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford said planning for the future might involve relocation of some schools to ensure students’ access to resources was maximised and schools were meeting community needs.
“This initiative will focus on groups of schools with resources that are significantly under-utilised and in need of renewal, and where the greatest opportunities exist for collaboration and improving student learning outcomes,” he said.
“The State Schools of Tomorrow initiative also enables us to establish renewed schools with the very best of facilities, equipment and learning technologies that can also serve multiple purposes in their communities.”
Mr Welford said school communities would play a vital role in local area planning processes.
“Local communities will have an opportunity to work with school clusters to focus on issues arising from changing populations and ageing or under-utilised facilities,” he said.
“The planning process will also encourage new partnerships between schools, TAFE and community groups to offer distinctive programs suited to each community’s needs.”
Thursday December 21, 2006
Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985
Premier Peter Beattie said the $850 million State Schools of Tomorrow initiative would be piloted in a number of school clusters, to be announced early in the new school year.
“This program is about ensuring that Queensland’s state schools can provide excellent facilities and educational opportunities for young people,” Mr Beattie said.
“State Schools of Tomorrow gives us an opportunity to assess how well our current school facilities are meeting the needs of students and communities.
“Dramatic changes to Queensland’s population over recent years have meant that the locations of schools and populations don’t always match.”
The Premier said the State Schools of Tomorrow project was part of the Queensland Government’s $1 billion investment in the Tomorrow’s Schools – Providing for a Smarter Future initiative, announced in the 2006-07 State Budget.
“The package provides $900 million to modernise state school resources and facilities and $100 million for the non-state sector over a five-year period,” he said.
Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford said planning for the future might involve relocation of some schools to ensure students’ access to resources was maximised and schools were meeting community needs.
“This initiative will focus on groups of schools with resources that are significantly under-utilised and in need of renewal, and where the greatest opportunities exist for collaboration and improving student learning outcomes,” he said.
“The State Schools of Tomorrow initiative also enables us to establish renewed schools with the very best of facilities, equipment and learning technologies that can also serve multiple purposes in their communities.”
Mr Welford said school communities would play a vital role in local area planning processes.
“Local communities will have an opportunity to work with school clusters to focus on issues arising from changing populations and ageing or under-utilised facilities,” he said.
“The planning process will also encourage new partnerships between schools, TAFE and community groups to offer distinctive programs suited to each community’s needs.”
Thursday December 21, 2006
Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985