By Matthew Sims
Berwick MP Brad Battin has asked for the State Government to visit Berwick College and consider providing extra funding amid a number of issues with maintenance.
He said the school has had the same portable classrooms since he attended the school in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday 18 May, Mr Battin said there were a number of issues students had raised to him.
“Some of the things that these students have listed are desks that are damaged, graffitied and full of chewing gum,” he said.
“The power points in a couple of classrooms are faulty and do not work.
“The toilets at Berwick College are broken – the seats and doors have fallen off.”
Mr Battin said a number of the classrooms at the school were portable buildings and were “visibly crumbling”.
“The air conditioners at the school are old and do not work,” he said.
“If they do work, students cannot even feel the cold and occasionally hot air blows in, again impacting their learning.
“These students want the minister to come out, have a look through and see and experience what is happening at the school to ensure that when the government is considering the budget money comes to Berwick College so we can get it up to the standard these students deserve so they can have the ultimate learning experience.”
Year 10 student Madeline De Jager said the school’s condition has been “constantly deteriorating” over the past few years and beyond.
“It is time for something to be done,” she said.
“The chairs are breaking, tables have holes carved into them and the table legs are breaking.
“Some projectors and the classroom’s powerpoints don’t turn on at all.”
Fellow Year 10 student Sanj Sra said she and Madeline were calling for the State Government to provide more funding to support the 1800 students.
“As students who have been attending Berwick College, we have noticed that the state of this school is slowly decreasing from its previous high standard when it was officially built in 1977,” she said.
“If the school does not get funding soon, I am afraid that the students will not have a fulfilling and up-to-standard educational experience in their high school years, setting them up to fail in the future.”
Berwick College has received $235,000 for maintenance funding in 2023.
In 2017, the school received $450,000 to repair storm-damaged buildings and retaining walls.
A Department of Education spokesperson said the department was aware of some of the issues raised by Mr Battin and were working with the school to resolve them as soon as possible.
“Berwick College has received almost $1.5 million for capital works since 2017, including $1.3 million for a health and wellbeing hub supporting the school and Casey community,” the spokesperson said.
“The college has also received $685,000 in planned maintenance funding over this time.
“All schools receive funding for general maintenance through the Student Resource Package, with additional funding provided via the Planned Maintenance Program for high-priority works.”
Principal Kerri Bolch said she would accept any support from the State Government.
“We would welcome any funding that would improve the students’ learning experience,” she said.
