A record $15.3 billion State Budget investment in school and early childhood education will deliver for Queensland children, students and tradies from Far North Queensland to the Gold Coast.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said almost $1.9 billion in infrastructure spending would maintain, renew and build new facilities, including 10 new schools and other facilities supporting more than 4100 jobs across the state.
“The 2021-22 education budget is a down payment on Queensland’s future,” she said.
“This is creating jobs to drive our economic recovery post-COVID and longer term, this is an investment in Queensland’s future workforce and leaders in our schools and early childhood centres.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said this education budget was the Palaszczuk Government’s seventh record investment in education.
“This continues our proud record of giving children a great start and engaging young people in learning, no matter where they live.”
The education budget includes $913.7 million over seven years for 10 new south-east Queensland schools to open in 2023 and 2024 in growth corridors.
They are six primary schools at: Ripley and Bellbird Park in Ipswich, and in the Augustine Heights area; Yarrabilba and Logan Reserve in Logan; and Redland Bay.
Four high schools will also be built at Palmview on the Sunshine Coast, Springfield, and in the Logan Reserve/Park Ridge and Collingwood Park/Redbank Plains areas.
“These new schools add to the 18 we have delivered since 2015, and four others under construction or planned,” Grace said.
“The budget also includes $202.9 million invested over four years and $64 million in ongoing annual funding to support the continued provision of universal access to kindergarten for Queensland children.”
The education budget also includes more than 240 new teachers and more than 80 new teacher aides; $14 million in 2021-22 towards a $100 million three-year student wellbeing package; and more than $23 million to deliver on the 2020 election commitment to build and upgrade training facilities at schools.
