Capital works boost for Catholic schools
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The State Government has announced $6.34 million for capital works projects in South Australian Catholic Schools as part of a $12.7 million boost for non-government schools.
Minister Boyer joins Reception students and their teacher Sue Brinkworth after the media conference.
Minister for Education Blair Boyer announced today the funding package at Our Lady of Grace School, Glengowrie, which will benefit from a $2.6m grant to cater for increasing enrolments.
The grant will go towards a new building with six classrooms and breakout spaces to cater for the school’s anticipated growth. It follows the school’s purchase of adjoining land.
Dominican School, Semaphore, will receive $2.3m to restore its heritage-listed convent building, creating a central hub for the school’s administration. The existing administration spaces will be refurbished to provide more classrooms to assist with growth in enrolments. A new lift and platform will be installed to improve accessibility.
St Joseph’s School, Barmera, will use an $800,000 grant to create three new contemporary learning areas to replace transportable classrooms and St Thomas School, Goodwood, will receive $600,000 to enhance its outdoor play area and improve sports amenities.
Minister Boyer said all students had the right to reach their full potential, regardless of where they attend school.
He acknowledged that “a lot of the money that goes to non-government schools is recurrent funding that can’t be used for capital and that does put them in a difficult position in terms of their capacity to raise the money to build these classrooms…here at Our Lady of Grace”.
He said it was even harder in the current environment where it was “up to 40 per cent more expensive to do it”.
South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools chair, John Neate, thanked the State Government for its support and said the funding would ensure students had the “very best experience in their schooling”.
Student leaders Solara, Iyla, James and Lewis with the Education Minister.
He said independent and Catholic schools educated almost 40 per cent of young people in SA in just over 200 schools.
“Today is recognition that all young people whatever sector they come from deserve the best, that’s what we are celebrating today,” Mr Neate said.
Our Lady of Grace principal Josette Charles said the school had “a very proud community that has been here for 70 years and the funding we are receiving will greatly assist us to build a further six classrooms”.
“We’ve been working collaboratively with the whole school community on a vision that we need for our young people…,” she said.
“I’m very excited we’re able to take the next step in partnership with the Government and Catholic Education SA.”
View a video from the media conference.
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