Australian state forms new body to cope with enrollment increase
Source: Xinhua   2017-04-27 14:56:39

SYDNEY, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia formed a new body on Thursday to oversee the state's school system, which is struggling to cope with a rise in new enrollments.

Reported to have a budget of around 5 billion Australian dollars (3.25 billion U.S. dollars), Education Infrastructure NSW is tasked with the challenge of how to deal with the projected 21 percent increase in student enrollments over the next 15 years.

"The establishment of the new agency underlines the high priority the NSW Government is placing on effectively responding to this growth," NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said in a statement.

The first job of the new infrastructure body will be filling the current backlog of maintenance issues plaguing the state's schools.

Stokes said community-based consultations will be one part of this initial process.

However, the move by the state government was not welcomed by everyone.

NSW opposition education spokesperson Jihad Dib told local media: "If it creates another level of bureaucracy and there's another delay, that's a real problem."

"What we need is less bureaucracy and more actual building of the schools."

The north of the country is also facing similar concerns.

Queensland State on Wednesday announced a program offering local businesses contracts to repair educational facilities.

"There are a wide range of works planned, so just about every trade will be required -- painters, builders, concreters, roofers, electricians, plumbers and many more," Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said.

"We currently spend over 200 million Australian dollars (149.7 U.S. dollars) each year repairing, upgrading or building public buildings and we need local businesses to deliver this work."

The process in Queensland will run for the month of May.

Editor: MJ
Related News
Xinhuanet

Australian state forms new body to cope with enrollment increase

Source: Xinhua 2017-04-27 14:56:39
[Editor: huaxia]

SYDNEY, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia formed a new body on Thursday to oversee the state's school system, which is struggling to cope with a rise in new enrollments.

Reported to have a budget of around 5 billion Australian dollars (3.25 billion U.S. dollars), Education Infrastructure NSW is tasked with the challenge of how to deal with the projected 21 percent increase in student enrollments over the next 15 years.

"The establishment of the new agency underlines the high priority the NSW Government is placing on effectively responding to this growth," NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said in a statement.

The first job of the new infrastructure body will be filling the current backlog of maintenance issues plaguing the state's schools.

Stokes said community-based consultations will be one part of this initial process.

However, the move by the state government was not welcomed by everyone.

NSW opposition education spokesperson Jihad Dib told local media: "If it creates another level of bureaucracy and there's another delay, that's a real problem."

"What we need is less bureaucracy and more actual building of the schools."

The north of the country is also facing similar concerns.

Queensland State on Wednesday announced a program offering local businesses contracts to repair educational facilities.

"There are a wide range of works planned, so just about every trade will be required -- painters, builders, concreters, roofers, electricians, plumbers and many more," Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said.

"We currently spend over 200 million Australian dollars (149.7 U.S. dollars) each year repairing, upgrading or building public buildings and we need local businesses to deliver this work."

The process in Queensland will run for the month of May.

[Editor: huaxia]
010020070750000000000000011100001362403911