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The West Australian government will spend $11.3 million on public schools to fix a myriad of structural issues, including crumbling ceilings, cracked walls and concerns over asbestos exposure.
Documents tabled in parliament during September estimates revealed more than 10,000 defects had been discovered across 834 public schools, both primary and secondary, according to a report finalised last year.
Education Minister Sabine Winton announced the additional funding on Tuesday afternoon amid backlash from the opposition, who said the government should be “ashamed” of conditions at the schools.
But Winton claimed that all defects labelled as priority one had been addressed, and that the $11.3 million was to support the repairs needed for priority two and three defects.
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Priority one is where there is imminent danger that could risk the safety of students and teachers.
Winton said the new funding had nothing to do with pressure from the opposition, and since the last building condition assessment the number of defects in schools had already been reduced by 70 per cent.
“When we took office, the previous building condition report had some 41,000 defects,” she said.
“That is a significant improvement, but today’s announcement also acknowledges that maintenances of our school system is an ongoing piece of work.
“Do I think that’s enough? No. That’s why … we have $125 million as a recurrent fund for infrastructure each and every year [on top of the funding announced on Tuesday].
“This particular funding that I’m announcing today will cover maintenance work such as repairs to roofs, ceilings, playing surfaces, fencing and interning internal finishes, like flooring and cabinetry.
“I’m looking forward to working with the department to make sure that we prioritise getting those (priority two and three) faults fixed.”
Esperance Senior High School recorded 121 defects, the most of all WA public schools. In one photograph, a sign pinned to a door at the school warned “asbestos containing materials have been found at this facility”.
Manjimup Senior High School recorded 87 defects, Kent Street Senior High School recorded 86, Shenton College 85, and Singleton Primary School 79.
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“I think we’ve made quite clear some of those photographs were dated photographs,” Winton said.
“That notwithstanding I absolutely understand that parents deserve and want good learning environments for their students.”
Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari said the report laid bare the state of disrepair and neglect many students and teachers were working in.
He said the government should be “ashamed” of the conditions.
“This reality must be compounding teacher stress and the sense of disrespect that we know is driving record resignations,” Staltari said.
“This report is a long-overdue wake-up call. No one should have to work and learn in these conditions and the government needs to sit up and listen.”
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