ACT’s peak body for public school parents says spending in the ACT budget is playing catch up.

The ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations president Alison Elliott said she was pleased to see the emphasis on
supporting teachers in the budget ($40 million), which should help address the impact of staff shortages.

Funding for “Inclusion Coaches” in priority schools was also welcome.

“We also congratulate the government on the sensible decision to support public school canteens to provide healthy food, with $418,000 over four years,” she said.

“However, council urges the government to place higher priority on long-term investment in public school infrastructure.

“We’re pleased to see money for some school upgrades and planning for a college in Molonglo. But overall the spending is not forward thinking enough.

“In the case of Gungahlin schools, the spending is going into playing catch up, providing college and high school places that we’ve been requesting for years and which will now be desperately needed before the schools can be built.”

“We need to see spending that is more future focused,” she said.

“We need a funded, ongoing renewal plan for our older schools.

“The plan should cover renovating decades-old student toilets, renewing worn-out infrastructure and revitalising outdoor facilities.

“These are vital, but are not normally covered by school maintenance budgets.”