Figures showing five Illawarra primary schools are among 180 in the state that are stretched beyond capacity is proof the government needs to “invest” in classrooms and stop offering “band aid solutions” according to Keira MP Ryan Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Figtree Heights, Wollongong, Keiraville, Balgownie and Thirroul public schools are among schools that have more teachers than classroom space, the formula used by the Department of Education to measure a school’s capacity.
Documents obtained by Fairfax Media under freedom-of-information laws, reveal many NSW schools are already at capacity. At Figtree Heights teachers outnumber classroom spaces by 11 per cent, while at Keiraville there are 8 per cent more teachers than classrooms.
More than 800 public schools across NSW are operating at 100 per cent capacity or more, with 180 listed as being stretched beyond their limits, the department's figures show.
“These figures reveal what parents, teachers and principals have been saying for a long time, the government must significantly invest in building more classrooms,” Mr Park said. “This government has failed to build classrooms in our region and the students are the ones who are suffering.”
A department spokesperson said a 100 per cent ‘utilisation’ rate did not mean a school could not take any more students, but that all of the school’s teaching spaces, permanent and demountable, were being utilised. “Higher enrolments can usually be catered for by adding demountable classrooms,” the spokesperson said.
However Mr Park said demountable classrooms were merely a band aid solution.
“Offering band aid solutions such as old demountable buildings is simply not good enough. Our students deserve better. This is not a long term solution,” he said.
“Teachers do a fantastic job but it is unrealistic to expect them to teach in crowded classrooms.”
The department spokesperson said demountable facilities were used to manage fluctuating enrolment demands in the short to medium term.
“For schools over 100 per cent utilisation, a decision is generally made at a local level to manage enrolments within existing permanent spaces, instead of placing demountable classrooms on the school site. In cases of sustained and stable enrolment increases, the department provides additional permanent facilities, or new schools, as necessary.”