Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.
Ms Elliot said the money has been spent on various items including new laptops, air purifiers and outdoor sports equipment upgrades on a needs-basis.
‘I want all students to get access to a quality education, including access to great facilities to learn in, and play on,’ the Richmond MP said via media release.
The following schools were listed as benefitting under the $450,000 funding scheme:
- Ballina Coast High School
- Banora Point Public School
- Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula School – Eungella
- Biala Special School -Ballina
- Bilambil Public School
- Brunswick Heads Public School
- Goonengerry Public School
- Hinterland Christian College -Mullumbimby
- Mount St Patrick Primary School – Murwillumbah
- Pacific Coast Christian School – Tweed Heads South
- St Anthony’s Primary School – Kingscliff
- St Francis Xavier’s Primary School – Ballina
- St James Primary School – Banora Point
- St John’s Primary School – Mullumbimby
- St Joseph’s Primary School – South Murwillumbah
- St Joseph’s Primary School – Tweed Heads
- Stokers Siding Public School
- Upper Coopers Creek Public School
The Echo has asked Ms Elliot which schools, if any, in the neighbouring division of Page have received funds under the same program.
The federal government was yet to update online information listing grant recipients as of end of day Monday.
Millions promised for school upgrades across the country
Grants distributed in Ms Elliot’s electorate were part of the Labor federal government’s $275.2 million two-year Schools Upgrade Fund launched last year.
Official information online about the program says it was designed to help schools provide students with ‘improved learning facilities in a COVID-19 safe environment’.
As well as $21.6 million for capital projects, the government said $32 million was for air purifiers and other upgraded ventilation systems, new outdoor learning spaces, upgraded ICT equipment, and urgent repairs.
Another $215.8 million was to help public schools meet the cost of important infrastructure projects such as new classrooms, buildings or other major refurbishments and upgrades, with the federal government saying it would work with state and territory governments to distribute funds based on need.
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