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Does school funding go far enough?

Does school funding go far enough?

The South Melbourne Primary School received funding in May’s State Budget, but not everyone is pleased with the pace of progress.

The school, which will be located on the Southbank side of Ferrars St, had $5 million committed to it for site preparation and planning, $3.5 million of which it will receive in 2014-15.

The Minister for Education, Martin Dixon, said the funding for South Melbourne Primary School was part of the Government’s wider education plan.

“We believe that all Victorian students should have access to the best and most up-to-date school facilities and that is why $5 million will be available from July 1, 2014 for the South Melbourne Primary School,” Mr Dixon explained.

“The Government has already funded the purchase of the site and initial planning in the 2013-14 State Budget. This new funding will be used to complete planning and prepare the site, including demolition works to make way for the brand new school.”

Lobby group Two Schools Now’s Alanna Vaz said the group was continuing to work closely with the Education Department and looked forward to the planning and construction beginning.

“The feedback we are hearing is that local families are disappointed that the building phase has been pushed back,” Ms Vaz said.

“This has been a long process and we will continue to represent the community’s urgent need for more school places until there are kids sitting in classes at Ferrars St school,” she added.

Labor MP and State Member for Albert Park, Martin Foley was, unsurprisingly, stronger, saying it now appeared the school was still years away.

“The promised school funding never arrived. If it is to happen it is not until at least 2019,” Mr Foley said.

“Now Napthine allocates money for planning and clean up of the old MTC site over the next two years – which takes us to 2017 before any construction of the school starts,” he added.

“Local families wanting to know where to send their kids have been given no answers or hope.”

Does the $5 million for the preparation and planning of the South Melbourne Primary School go far enough? Tell us on our Facebook page “Southbank Local News”.

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