News

Labor's 'Education State' continues to fail Wangaratta

Thursday 23 February 2017

Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has again called for the government to fund the relocation of the Wangaratta District Specialist School.

Mr McCurdy said as school returned for the year it was unacceptable the facility was at capacity with no options for growth on the current site.

“The Coalition Government committed to start the process for a new school and to purchase a suitable site for the Wangaratta District Specialist School in 2014,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Now it’s 2017 and staff, students and families are still waiting for Labor to fund this project.

“The increasing enrolments at the school and a total lack of space means this school and its students literally have nowhere to grow.”

Mr McCurdy said Shadow Education Minister, Nick Wakeling, was keen to visit Wangaratta to highlight the importance of the issue.

“Mr Wakeling has visited the school with me previously and is looking to do so again in order to push the need for this relocation,” he said.

“He understands the needs of the school and the community and is very supportive of this project.”

Mr McCurdy said the Andrews Labor Government was showing its disregard for education in Wangaratta and the students that rely on this school by failing to provide funding.

“This school needs a site that will enable teachers to do their job and for the students to learn and thrive,” he said.

“The Labor Government is failing to provide this. Labor’s so-called education state is failing Wangaratta.”