Opposition wants another college

By Jim Mynard
VICTORIAN Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon has called for another secondary college to be set up in the Pakenham area.
Mr Dixon said during a tour of the region with Eastern Victoria Region MP Edward O’Donohue that 1384 people aged between 12 and 17 would move into the Pakenham growth corridor in the next five years.
“The only way to sustain public education choices is to build another secondary college,” he said.
He said Victoria had some great schools but still had funding needs, particularly in maintenance.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said she was aware of the need for a secondary college and was in the process of lobbying for land to be set aside in the Vic Urban development at Officer.
She said she agreed there was a need but suspected the Opposition was responding to what she called lies in a daily newspaper about the Pakenham Secondary College.
Mr Dixon said the Government was also facing a wages battle because Victorian teachers’ pay was well below the other states.
“I am a former school principal and I also see when I walk into some schools that there is a serious need for considerable maintenance funding,” he said.
“We need $200 million to bring our schools up to scratch and to ensure a safe environment.
“We need to repair visible rotting wood, spouting, and things like floor coverings because these things reflect on the look of a school when they are below par.”
Mr Dixon said planning for schools in this area was not in touch with the expected rapid increase in population.
“We are seeing the private school blossoming in the south-east and getting the best sites, while the public sector needs at least one more secondary college and a technical school in the Pakenham Officer area,” he said.
Mr Dixon said Pakenham Secondary College was the only secondary college available to serve the wider area.
“With student numbers as high as 1100 in 2007 the school is experiencing increased pressure because of the number of families moving into the area.
“The urgency for the State Government to take action to secure another secondary college for the growth corridor is blatantly obvious,” he said.
Ms Lobato said there was a need to wait until the area had adequate numbers for a college.
“However, I believe a new school will be needed, but prefer it to be in the Officer area because we also need to think of growth in the area through to Beaconsfield,” she said.