Education is a growing issue

By Bridget Brady and Lia Bichel
AN INFLUX of young families in Casey makes education a hot topic this election.
With the population rapidly increasing, parents and principals are hoping education is a big winner.
Casey’s population has nearlydoubled in the last 15 years, with the population expected to reach 320,000 by 2021.
The number of people aged under 15 is expected to rise by 40 per cent by 2021.
The boom has stretched education services in Casey, leaving many principals seeking better resources for their schools.
Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek said a special school was high on the wish-list for Casey, as well as welfare officers, a minor maintenance program, and less emphasis on teacher paperwork.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said a number of state-of-the-art schools and refurbishments had been carried out around Cranbourne, including the completion of Carlisle Park Primary School and the modernisation of Cranbourne Secondary School.
Shadow Minister for EducationMartin Dixon said the Liberal Party would release their policies on education in the near future.
Mr Dixon said he was unable to comment on the policies, but said he hoped they would address the main issues of education in Victoria. “The key issues in education at the moment are literacy and numeracy rate results in our schools, safety and discipline in our schools, and also the physical condition and maintenance (of schools),” Mr Dixon said.