The Gillard Government is giving more support to schools in the Hobart area through grants, partnerships and services than ever before.

 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten said the around 19,000 students across the 45 schools in the area were benefitting from unprecedented support.

 “Our Building the Education Revolution (BER) program funded 105 projects around Hobart, at a total cost of $93.8 million,” Mr Shorten said.

 “This equates to 23 classrooms built or upgraded, 19 libraries, 15 multipurpose halls and seven state of the art science or language centres.

 “It’s not just the students and teachers who benefit from programs like the BER – the largest school building program in our country’s history – the communities also benefit from these upgrades,” Mr Shorten said.

 In Tasmania BER funding of $440.8 billion for 596 projects led to 128 new or upgraded classrooms, 59 libraries, 120 multipurpose halls and 96 science or language centres.

 State-wide, $42,556,263 has been spent on Trade Training Centre projects benefiting 37 schools and 19,667 computers have been installed.

 “We’ve invested $16.2 billion in the BER, helping out almost 9500 schools in every suburb, town and community in Australia,” Mr Shorten said.

 “I’ve seen firsthand what difference improvements like this are making to schools across the country.

 “I’ve heard of new multipurpose rooms being used for after school care, new sports grounds are being used on weekends and many more community members are able to be involved in schools with bigger halls or outdoor assembly areas for concerts and displays.

“It is infrastructure like this that should be highlighted to opponents of the program, as the whole community in and around Hobart is benefiting from these improvements.

“Feedback shows more than 90 per cent of principals believe the BER has delivered projects schools and communities want and need.

 “In all, our unmatched support for schools and school education is ensuring the next generation of Australians have the best chance they can get,” Mr Shorten said.

 

Mr Shorten’s Media Contact: Sam Casey 0421 697 660

                                               

 

School improvements around Hobart   There are around 19,000 students (FTE) in 45 schools There was $93.8 million approved for 105 BER projects (including the building or upgrading of 23 classrooms, 19 libraries, 15 multipurpose halls and seven science and/or language centres) There have been 6589 computers installed There was $19,391,867 approved for Trade Training Centre projects benefitting 19 schools There are 21 schools participating in the Smarter Schools National Partnerships There are 15 schools receiving funding for chaplaincy services

School improvements in Tasmania   There are around 82,000 students (FTE) in 255 schools There was $440.8 million approved for 596 BER projects (including the building or upgrading of 128 classrooms, 59 libraries, 120 multipurpose halls and 96 science and/or language centres) There have been 19,667 computers installed There was $42,556,263 approved for Trade Training Centre projects benefitting 37 schools There are 110 schools participating in the Smarter Schools National Partnerships There are 131 schools receiving funding for chaplaincy services   Data current at publishing - August 2012