The Palaszczuk Government claims its investment in education infrastructure is delivering more schools, new and refurbished classrooms and supporting jobs in the building and construction industry.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the construction of the eight new schools opening in Queensland next year was supporting around 1370 construction jobs.
“Next year, the Palaszczuk Government will open new schools in some of the fastest growing communities in Queensland – Yarrabilba, Ripley Valley, Coomera, Mango Hill, Caboolture, Calliope and Fortitude Valley,” Ms Grace said.
“That will take the total number of new schools opened since the election of the Palaszczuk Government to 21, and a further two schools, Dutton Park and Baringa, will open in 2021.
“Not only is this a tremendous boost to public education in Queensland, our ambitious infrastructure program has the added benefit of creating jobs in the state’s construction industry.”
The construction jobs being supported through the construction of new schools are:
School | Cost | Jobs supported |
New high school, Fortitude Valley | $80 million | 300 |
New high school, Coomera | $64 million | 170 |
New high school, Yarrabilba | $65 million | 170 |
New high school, Calliope | $66 million | 180 |
New primary AND secondary schools, Ripley Valley | $120 million | 316 |
New special school, Caboolture | $24 million | 64 |
New high school, Mango Hill | $64 million | 170 |
“If you add in all the projects to provide new and refurbished facilities at existing schools across the state, the Palaszczuk Government is supporting around 2700 jobs through its education infrastructure program,” Ms Grace said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is also creating jobs by employing more teachers.
“There are currently 1,165 additional full-time equivalent teachers and 264 full-time equivalent teacher aides working in schools today compared to 12 months ago.
“Since the election of the Palaszczuk Government, the number of full-time equivalent teachers in Queensland’s state schools has increased by more than 4800 and the number of teacher aides has grown by close to 1400.”
