School shock

By Callan Date
SCHOOL facilities in the Narre Warren South electorate are among the worst in Victoria, according to a survey.
The disturbing results came to light in a recent survey conducted by the Australian Education Union in which more than 15 schools were surveyed.
Every school surveyed in the electorate, which covers Narre Warren South and parts of Hampton Park, Cranbourne North, Narre Warren and Berwick, said their facilities were inadequate while nearly 80 per cent believe their buildings needed more maintenance.
Narre Warren South came in at seventh worst on the Victorian list.
The results come only two weeks after the News reported parents were taking their children out of class at Eumemmerring Primary School because of excessive temperatures on warm days.
Schools surveyed included Narre Warren South P-12 College, Fountain Gate Primary School and Brentwood Park Primary School.
More than 60 per cent of schools said they suffered from a lack of suitable permanent classrooms while the same amount reported not enough outdoor covered areas for shade and shelter.
And 93 per cent of responding schools reported equipment shortages.
The Liberal Party has vowed to spend $200 million in repairing and maintaining school facilities across Victoria if it wins the upcoming state election. The Labor Party has said it will commit about $1.2 billion in renovating or rebuilding more than 300 schools over the next four years if it wins.
Narre Warren North schools fared better with only 64 per cent of those surveyed saying their facilities were inadequate.
Eumemmerring College Gleneagles campus principal Sue Peddlesden said the school had facilities that meet the needs of both staff and students.
However, like most schools, maintenance and administrative support were issues for the campus.
“Maintenance is an ongoing challenge that is being addressed as appropriate.
“Teachers would benefit from more administrative support but it is not a significant concern,” Ms Peddlesden said.