Record funding for education continues to rise in the 2019-20 State Budget, as the Marshall Liberal Government focuses on ensuring that our public education system is truly world-class and supports all our students across South Australia to fulfil their potential.
This includes $1.3 billion worth of capital projects to be delivered between now and 2024-25, building state-of-the-art educational facilities across the state.
The significant capital works program includes the two brand-new birth to Year 12 schools for the metropolitan area delivered under a Public Private Partnership model, the new $100 million school in Whyalla funded by the State Government, and more than $873 million in capital works to improve school facilities and build capacity in our schools.
Recurrent funding for education will also increase by $611 million in 2022-23 compared to 2018- 19. The State Government is investing more than $80 million to deliver high-speed internet to public schools right across South Australia, as part of a landmark deal with Telstra that will see schools experience internet speeds up to 1000 times faster than before.
By mid-2020, the project will deliver speeds of up to and beyond 1GB to more than 500 government school sites across the state.
Funding continues to be delivered for key school improvement measures including the State Government's $20.9 million Literacy Guarantee including the rollout of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, $12.2 million Languages in Schools initiative, $5.6 million entrepreneurial specialist programs and a $15.5 million package of measures to address bullying, truancy and substance abuse in schools.
A $1.8 million investment in this year's budget provides an exemption from student contribution fees for dependents of 457 and 482 visa holders attending government schools in all regional areas.
The move is expected to attract more foreign workers to South Australia, in particular regional areas.
Education Minister John Gardner said the Marshall Liberal Government recognises that investment in our children and young people is key to our state's future.
"This year's budget continues to deliver the biggest investment in schools by any State Government in South Australia's history," said Minister Gardner.
"We want every student, in every class, in every school across South Australia to benefit from a world-class education.
"We are delivering the funding required to properly transition Year 7 into a high school setting, so our students will no longer be left behind their counterparts in other states.
"This budget highlights the Marshall Liberal Government's commitment to building the worldclass education system our students deserve."
