Queensland schools have welcomed more than 880,000 students on day one of the new education year.
More than 575,000 students enrolled at Queensland’s 1,264 state schools in 2024, including approximately 43,000 prep students who are beginning their education journey, all guided by more than 55,000 teachers and nearly 19,000 teacher aides at schools across the state.
Around 305,000 students are expected to be attending Queensland’s 545 Independent and Catholic schools this year.
Today, the first cohort of 94 foundation students at the new Scenic Shores State School in Redlands also rushed through the gates of their new $74.9 million primary school.
The opening of two new primary schools this year, with a combined value of $160 million, brings the total to 27 new schools opened since 2015 by the Queensland Government with a total investment of $3 billion.
During the same period, 77 new school halls and performing arts centres have opened, many serving as community hubs. A further 26 will be delivered before the end of this year.
The State Government is committed to giving all Queensland children a great start in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023-24 is being investing to build, maintain and upgrade schools and early childhood facilities, supporting 3,700 jobs.
Three new schools are planned to be delivered in fast growing areas around Queensland in 2025 and 2026.
Term 1 2024 also marks the start of a new ‘away for the day’ approach to student use of mobile phones in Queensland state schools. All students and parents are encouraged to talk with their teachers and school leaders about the arrangements at their school to help students focus on their learning free from the distraction of their mobile phone during school hours.
Free kindergarten is the biggest reform in the Queensland’s early childhood education sector in over 10 years, with the total investment in kindergarten now $2 billion over four years.
It means in 2024, 64,000 Queensland children will have access to free quality kindergarten. Families will benefit from free kindergarten as it will remove cost as a barrier to participation, easing cost of living pressures for Queensland families.
“I am extremely proud of every single one of our 1264 state schools their teachers and other school staff because they do such a good job with our kids,” Minister for Education Di Farmer said.
“While I want to give a special welcome to all the Preppies, who are just starting their learning adventures, today is a super exciting day for all students, mums and dads, our staff and school communities, and it’s a very special day to be the Queensland Minister for Education.
“We are investing $17.8 billion in our education system this year because we believe no matter who you are or where you are in Queensland you deserve the same access to a high quality education.”
