TRISH DOYLE MP

Member for Blue Mountains

BLUE MOUNTAINS SCHOOLS MISS OUT YET AGAIN

Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle has criticised the NSW Government for leaving local schools out of the next stage of its school building program.

A media release issued by the Premier and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning on 20^th October announced 44 new and upgraded school projects across the state, with no schools within the Blue Mountains area featuring on the program list.

“I am furious that our Blue Mountains schools have missed out again,” Ms Doyle said. “This is a real set-back for our community, in particular our students. It’s been a tough couple of years and the fact that we have to wait even longer for much needed improvements to our local schools, sends a message that the NSW Government really doesn’t care.”

“The Education Minister says this program will deliver better schools for students but sorry Blue Mountains kids, that doesn’t include you,” said Ms Doyle.

“Minister Mitchell proudly claims that the NSW Government’s investment is giving our kids the best chance to achieve their academic potential. So what does she say to all the schools that miss out?” added Ms Doyle. “This kind of selective process whereby schools in dire need of upgrading don’t make the list is unacceptable. What kind of message is that sending to teachers, staff and students?”

“To be honest, there are no real surprises here. Our local schools failed to rate a mention in the last State Budget and so here we are. I will continue to demand that the Government deliver improvements, where needed, for our Blue Mountains schools,” Ms Doyle said.

Another recent announcement regarding the NSW Government’s Cooler Classrooms program has revealed that all nine Blue Mountains schools who applied for the program have been unsuccessful.

“This is adding insult to injury,” Ms Doyle said. “Not only have they missed out but they’ve had to wait almost three years to receive the bad news. This is completely unacceptable and I think the NSW Education Minister owes an explanation to our schools and hundreds of others across the state who are experiencing a similar fate.”

Katoomba High P & C representative, Vikki Wilmont has joined Ms Doyle in expressing her disappointment with the recent announcements by the NSW Government.

“Student numbers at Katoomba High have doubled over the last decade, and while our Principal uses limited funds as creatively as possible and some classrooms have been renovated, the physical structure has remained largely unchanged in all that time,” Ms Wilmont said. “I believe that apart from demountable classrooms, the last major infrastructure project was the Support Unit building in 1995; Katoomba High School students are overdue for an upgrade to their learning environment.”

DATE: MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2021