Record $11.8 billion for schools and TAFE

The 2008/9 State Budget provides a record $11.8 billion for schools and vocational training at TAFE NSW – an increase of $614 million (5.5%) on the previous year.

It includes record investment in school upgrades and information technology.

Highlights are:

• A record $733 million for the construction of new school and TAFE facilities, including the start of 16 major projects in schools, 12 in the TAFE sector, and increased investment in information technology;
• Construction of 20 new school halls and gyms;
• The completion of work on new Trade Schools at Nambucca Heads and Jamison High Schools;
• Upgrades to food technology units at 8 schools;
• Toilet upgrades at 52 schools to improve student amenities;
• A record $267 million for maintenance in schools and TAFEs – with more than $ billion scheduled over the next 4 years;

Retaining teachers in public schools and developing their careers

$31.3 million will be spent over the next 4 years on programs to retain and develop permanent new teachers by providing them with extra support in their first year. This is in addition to the $36 million $36 million spent each year on the Teacher Professional Support Program.

Equity programs for students

$1.42 billion will be directed to equity programs for:

• students with disabilities,
• indigenous students,
• students in rural areas
• Priority Action Schools and Priority Funding Schools programs,
• the English as a second language program.

Connected Classrooms (new technology connecting classrooms to the world)

The Connected Classrooms program will accelerate in 2008/9, with $65 million in capital and recurrent funding.

Over the next 4 years, $156.6 million will be committed to ensure every NSW public school has interactive whiteboards, videoconferencing facilities, and on-line learning tools that enable the sharing of information.

Best Start – teachers observing kindergarten children across a range of tasks in order to assess how best to start teaching them literacy and numeracy

$19 million will be injected into the Best Start literacy and numeracy program in 2008/9 – more than double the previous financial year.

Community Service begins at School program

$12.6 million will be spent over 4 years on the Community Service Begins at School program.

Students who complete a minimum of 20 hours community service will receive a new Premier’s Community Service Award along with their Year 10 School Certificate.

NSW’s top 10 student volunteers will each win a $2000 education scholarship while the school with the best volunteering record each year will receive a $5000 grant.

Premier’s Sporting Challenge

As part of the Premier’s Sporting Challenge, $5 million in capital grants for sporting and fitness equipment will be distributed to schools in 2008/9.

TAFE NSW will receive almost $1.9 billion in recurrent funding in 2008/9 – an increase of $90 million on the previous year.

Learn or earn program

The Learn or Earn initiative will receive funding of $84 million over 4 years in recurrent and capital funding to provide for:

• An extra 5850 training places in TAFE NSW;
• 15 additional trade schools across schools and TAFE;
• Expansion of the Group Training Program to employ an extra 3500 apprentices.

Upgrades to TAFE infrastructure

12 major building projects will start during 2008/9.

Upgrades to TAFE facilities include:

• Granville
• Hamilton
• Macquarie Fields
• Temora.