NSW Labor is urging the NSW Government to fast-track construction of much-needed upgrades to halls at Engadine High School and Stanwell Park Public School to bolster economic recovery and create jobs.
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Engadine High was promised a new muliti-purpose hall in last year's state election "cash splash" when then-Education Minister Rob Stokes visited the school.
The projects were promised last year but remain unfunded, stuck in planning limbo with no construction timeline.
Last week, Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the school upgrades promised during the state election campaign are in "an early planning stage".
Labor has launched a major campaign, 'Building Schools Creates Jobs' to kick start construction of overdue projects in the Heathcote electorate and to boost employment during the recession.
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay visited Engadine High School on Tuesday with the Shadow Education Minister Prue Car and the Labor Spokesperson for Heathcote, Mark Buttigieg, to call for both hall upgrades to be accelerated.
"It's time to bring forward desperately needed school construction, including this project at Engadine High School. Building and upgrading schools creates jobs," Ms McKay said.
NSW Shadow Minister for Education Prue Car said: "Fast-tracking school building means trades jobs in the short term, and better school facilities for children in the long term. The NSW Government needs to immediately begin these projects. It's time the Engadine and Stanwell Park communities saw these promises delivered."
Labor Spokesperson for Heathcote, Mark Buttigieg, said: "We are in a recession. It's time to bring forward desperately needed school construction. This will not only help students and teachers but also provide hundreds of jobs."
Across NSW the number of demountable classrooms has jumped by a third since the Government came to power. More than one in 10 students (12%) are packed into 5,650 demountable classrooms across the state.
In the Heathcote electorate: Bundeena Public School, Stanwell Park Public School and Helensburgh Public School are all over capacity while Engadine High School is on the brink.
