The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring students in the Mallee will benefit from the largest school infrastructure investment in Victoria’s history.
Minister for Education James Merlino visited Hopetoun P-12 College to discuss the $9.53 million upgrade which will modernise the entire school and deliver better classrooms and facilities.
This builds on the more than $1 million provided to the school in October through the Government’s Infrastructure Planning and Acceleration Fund to commence planning on the upgrade.
The upgrade will include a new space for primary school students to learn about science, technology and food preparation.
Secondary school students will also enjoy a new fine arts and multimedia space with facilities for visual arts, textiles, media, visual communication and integrated art.
The Victorian School Building Authority will work with Hopetoun P-12 College to manage the project scope and delivery.
Hopetoun P-12 College also received more than $169,000 in 2019 for a range of essential maintenance and compliance programs as part of the Labor Government’s $515 million maintenance blitz.
Hopetoun P-12 College has around 80 students from Prep to Year 12 – while small it is well regarded in the community, with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, as well as an established senior years program that allows students to accelerate through courses at their own pace.
Students in Year 9 have the opportunity to run their own enterprises through the school’s Business Management program, which allows them to create and sell products to the community.
In the past five years, the Labor Government has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1,600 school upgrades – creating more than 10,000 construction jobs – and is now ahead of schedule of its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 48 new schools opening between 2019 and 2022.
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
“This upgrade is part of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria.”
“Upgrading Hopetoun P-12 College will give local students access to great classrooms and facilities – because you can’t deliver a first-rate education in second-rate classrooms.”
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
“Mallee families are a step closer to getting the great local school facilities their kids need to thrive.”
