Students and parents at Footscray’s secondary schools have hit out at a lack of funding for urgent works in the latest state budget.
While the state government last week confirmed that $29.2 million will be allocated to build the Seddon Secondary Campus as part of the Footscray Learning Precinct, no money was announced towards refurbishing Footscray City College or Gilmore College for Girls, the two other campuses that will form part of the precinct.
Year 11 Footscray City College student Erica Giudici said the high student intake in recent years is splitting the school at its seams.
“They want year 7s to have the best first year experience, but the numbers keep growing and they have to shove all the seniors into these cramped and dimly lit classrooms,” she said.
“When I entered year 7 there were 150 kids in the year, this past year there were 275.”
Erica said her maths class has 27 students and the early part of each lesson is wasted as students search other rooms for spare tables.
“People have to sit on the floor while the teacher explains what we’re doing then go out and find somewhere else to work,” she said.
Erica said the staff and students at the school feel it has been the victim of politics in an election year.
“Announcing a new school looks better than renovating two existing schools.”
From 2020, new year 7 students will begin their studies at the Gilmore campus, which will become co-educational, while years 8 to 12 will be at the Footscray City College campus. The Seddon campus is expected to open in 2021.
FCC council president Karen Ingram said without funding to begin modifying the existing schools, it is difficult to see how the 2020 launch date is possible.
“While we welcome investment in the FLP secondary school’s southern campus, we are extremely disappointed that zero funding has been allocated to upgrade existing facilities at FCC and the intended junior campus at Gilmore.”
Ms Ingram said the schools had been led to believe the works for the transition would get under way sooner than later. “The master plans have already been drawn up,” she said.
“There is a concern that it could effect our enrolment if the schools aren’t ready in time.”
The state government did not respond to a request for comment.
