Opposition slams new school - A waste of $12m
9th February 2010
Author: John Masanauskas, education reporter
Publisher: News Ltd
Publication: Herald Sun, Page 35 (Sat 6 Feb 2010)
Keywords: Ted (1),Baillieu (1)
Edition: 1 - FIRST
Section: NEWSOpposition slams new school
A waste of $12m
THE State Government has been accused of wasting $12 million on a new school that doesn't offer classes beyond year 9.
Altona College was built for 500 students, but its numbers have dropped below 200.
Many parents withdraw their children from the college after grade 6 in order to avoid changing schools in the middle of their child's secondary education.
The college was created as a prep-to-year 9 school after the former Altona West primary and Altona SC merged.
Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon said the merger showed the Government was out of touch with local families.
``The Brumby Government has closed or merged more than 150 schools in Victoria, and Altona P-9 College is the result of a merger that was forced on the community -- a model they did not want and does not work,'' he said.
``It's a brand new building going to waste,'' Mr Dixon said.
Mr Dixon said a Liberal government would extend Altona's classes to year 12 in order to make the school viable.
Trevor Cassidy said his son Jye had completed year 9 at the college, but was now attending Pt Cook SC, which entailed a daily 50km round trip.
``The Altona people have been robbed of a senior school for the local community,'' Mr Cassidy said.
``There's nothing in Altona for us within walking distance to go to.''
Mr Cassidy said the only other government alternative was Bayside SC in Newport, but the school was unsuitable for his son.
A State Government spokesman said a place in a government school was available to every child who required one.
``Students who graduate from Altona P-9 can move on to either the new Bayside College (Paisley Campus)
or Point Cook Senior Secondary College,'' he said.
``Both colleges maintain a high standard of education excellence and have individual transition programs for students entering into year 10.''
The spokesman said that Opposition leader Ted Baillieu's promise to expand Altona College was empty, and didn't come close to making up for the government schools his company had sold for former premier Jeff Kennett in the 1990s.
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Martin Dixon MP
State Member for Nepean
Shop 1, McCrae Plaza
Cnr Lonsdale Street and Pt Nepean Road
McCRAE VIC 3938
Phone: (61) 3 5986 6661
Fax: (61) 3 5981 1360
Email: martin.dixon@parliament.vic.gov.au