The Andrews Labor Government is making sure students at Officer Specialist School have better learning environments, with a huge investment to deliver a major upgrade for the growing school.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced the Victorian Budget 2022/23 invests $3.7 million to deliver upgrade works at Officer Specialist School.

The funding will upgrade and modernise the school, including new permanent classrooms to make sure every student has the space they need to learn, grow and play.

Officer Specialist School is one of 36 special schools to share in $326 million in capital upgrades in the Budget – making sure that students with special needs receive the same opportunities as every other student in our state.

Upgrades will deliver more space for schools in growing communities, improved learning spaces and sports facilities – giving students better educational outcomes in more modern facilities.

That means since the Labor Government was elected, every single special school in Victoria will have received funding for a major upgrade.

Alongside upgrading special schools, major upgrades will be delivered at 29 mainstream schools – with funding provided to expand capacity to meet enrolment growth at an additional two established schools – making sure every Victorian family has access to the best learning facilities, close to home.

In the past eight years, the Labor Government has invested $12.8 billion in building new schools and more than 1,850 school upgrades, creating around 17,400 jobs in construction and associated industries.

The Government is well ahead of schedule in its work to deliver 100 new schools between 2019 and 2026, with 75 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“You can’t get a first-rate education in a second-rate classroom – this investment will go a long way towards improving the facilities for students at Officer Specialist School and making their educational journey a modern and engaging one.”

“We are building a modern new school to ensure Officer students and their families have access to a great education close to home in the Education State.”

“It’s only a Labor government that will deliver an education system that supports every Victorian child to reach their full potential, no matter whether they attend a specialist school or a mainstream school.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“We’re making sure every Victorian student has access to the best facilities at school, no matter where they live.”