INALA SCHOOLS TO BENEFIT FROM MODERNISATION PROJECT

The landmark $850 million State Schools of Tomorrow initiative will start with multi-million dollar school modernisation project in the south-west Brisbane area of Inala.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the record investment would enable the local community to help plan for the future of state education, and transform schools into 21^st century teaching and learning environments.

“One of the most important influences on children’s education is the quality of the schools in which they learn,” Mr Welford said.

“This initiative is about ensuring Queensland’s state schools are equipped with exceptional facilities, resources and technologies that meet the long-term needs of the local community and increase educational opportunities for young people.

“Many schools in the Inala area were built more than 50 years ago when schooling was very different to the modern day educational needs and aspirations of local families.

“We will invest upwards of $50 million in the Inala area to give parents, teachers and local residents the chance to consider what schools they need for the future, where they should be located, what they should look like, and what facilities they should have.

“The ideas of the local community will help to create a new educational vision for the future that will benefit young people for decades to come.”

Member for Inala, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said flexible proposals for the future of state education in the Inala area had been created as a starting point for community discussion.

“I am delighted by this Government commitment to securing a sustainable future for our local state schools,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “It is by far the single largest injection of funds to Inala schools in more than half a century.

“This is a great initiative that will make Inala families proud.

“Seven schools will be considered in our community-led educational vision including Durack, Inala, Richlands East, Inala West, Serviceton South and Richlands state schools, and Glenala State High School.

“Some of the redevelopment options could include creating a Prep to Year 12 education campus, creating a new skills-based community centre at Glenala or developing a new school hall that will be open to the community.”

State Schools of Tomorrow is the major component of the $1 billion Tomorrow’s Schools package announced in the 2006-07 Budget and it is the largest one-off investment in education facilities in Queensland’s history.

For more information visit: www.education.qld.gov.au/tomorrows-schools

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000