School Council president Scott Forrest (centre) with Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe and By Melissa Donchi
STUDENTS at Wandin Yallock Primary School are working out of shabby classrooms and outdated portables that haven’t been updated for at least 20 years.
Now teachers and parents are concerned that student’s education is being compromised by their cramped confines and archaic conditions.
With class sizes growing each year due to an increase in enrolments, staff are worried they are bursting at the seams.
School Council president Scott Forrest said after years of neglect they had been forced to speak out.
“We have had a really committed team of parents and volunteers who have helped us with repairs and maintenance over the years,” Mr Forrest said.
“We haven’t complained each time we get overlooked for funding but enough is enough.”
Shadow Minister for Education Martin Dixon inspected the school last week and said he was appalled at the condition of some of the classrooms.
“After the Bracks Government announced its plan to rebuild and maintain schools across the state many schools felt this would happen sooner rather than later,” Mr Dixon said.
“But with funding announcements being made for other schools I think Wandin Yallock feels it has been left behind.”
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said the state of some of the classrooms was unacceptable.
“There’s a giant hole in the wall of one for starters,” Ms Fyffe said. “Some windows are lined with rust and mould, things are hanging off where they shouldn’t and quite literally falling apart.”
But it is the cramped conditions that has parents worried with some students barely able to push their seat back without ramming into someone else.
“It’s not only dangerous squashing them all in together like that but it also affects their learning experience,” parent Peta McKay said.
“They are not able to interact as well or work in groups because there is just not enough space.”
Mr Forrest said it was no longer okay to rely on parents to do all the hard work.
“We’ve accepted no for an answer because the parent’s have done so well but it shouldn’t have to be their responsibility,” Mr Forrest said.
The State Government could not provide a comment by the time the Mail went to print.
