Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt today welcomed funding of $1,278,992 for Good Counsel College at Innisfail under the Flying Start capital assistance scheme.
Mr Pitt said the funding for eligible non-state schools will help refurbish and upgrade educational facilities to accommodate the move of Year 7 to secondary schooling.
[singlepic id=465 w=320 h=240 float=left] “This funding will enable the conversion of the old library to four flexible learning areas, a general learning area, pupil amenities and associated walkways,” Mr Pitt said.
“It will also provide additional funding for the construction of stage two with four specialty spaces, two general learning areas and an IT tech area.
“Additional funding has been provided for a previously approved project for car set down and external road works as well as local government infrastructure charges.
“This is a great boost in new and refurbished learning facilities for Good Counsel College.
“The funding will go a long way in making sure Good Counsel College has the facilities needed for Year 7 to move into secondary schooling,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the Flying Start for Queensland Children initiative was a major education reform started by the previous Labor Government to transition Year 7 to high school.
“The change is a direct result of the decision to increase the school starting age and to introduce full-time Prep in 2007, which added an extra year of schooling,” Mr Pitt said.
“In 2015, more than half of students in Year 7 will turn 13 and Year 7 will be their eighth year of schooling.
“Being in high school will give Year 7 students the same learning opportunities as their interstate counterparts through access to specialist teachers and facilities such as science labs.
“All Australian states with the exception of South Australia have moved or committed to move year 7 to high school.”
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