WA News

ANALYSIS

Parties woo Perth with promises of schools on every corner

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It's been a season of mellow fruitfulness, with WA's political parties promising glittering educational institutions whichever way you look - left or right.

The Liberal government in December promised $65 million over four years in upgrades to Carnarvon Community College, a $30 million upgrade for Margaret River Senior High School and $3.5 million for seven new classrooms at Mount Hawthorn Primary School.

State opposition leader Mark McGowan on Sunday promised a high-rise city specialist school with funds taken from scrapping the Liberals' new City Beach College Project, as well as upgrades to Perth Modern, which would then open to local families. 

Labor also last began drip-feeding a major school funding announcement with announcements of $50 million upgrades for John Forrest SHS in Morley and Balcatta SHS, both of which are in marginal Liberal electorates.

It completed the picture on Monday by unveiling the larger $381 million plan these were part of, also promising of 10 new primary schools and major investments in other high schools including new performing arts centres.

It had last week promised major works at numerous regional schools including Bunbury SHS, Newton Moore SHS, South Bunbury PS, Flinders Park PS in Albany, Mount Lockyer PS, Collie SHS and Eaton Community College.

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Labor has also announced an additional $2 million for a strategy to reverse the decline in international student enrolments to Western Australia and an upgrade of Collie Tafe.

The government on Monday countered with a promise of four new primary schools, totalling $83 million, for Aveley North, Forrestdale South West, Southern River, and Meadow Springs North near Mandurah, all to open in 2019.

In addition, temporary facilities would open next year for kindergarten and pre-primary students ahead of the completion of the permanent buildings so young children could start their education in these new schools, Education Minister Peter Collier said when announcing the projects.

What next? Only time will tell, and there's plenty of that left before March 11.