In the same year that Bundaberg State High School turns 110 a new three storey learning centre has been opened as part of a $12 million upgrade.
Education Minister Grace Grace and local Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith last week officially opened the learning centre and refurbished facilities.
Minister Grace said the $12 million investment, which includes the three storey learning centre, was delivered through the Renewing Our Schools (ROS) program to deliver state of the art facilities for students to learn in.
“The $12 million investment from the Palaszczuk Government means the school now has a new three-storey learning centre that includes a new library and science classrooms, a renewed administration space for 30 teacher aides, five refurbished general learning areas, upgrades to the sports courts, and new bathrooms,” Ms Grace said.
“The project also supported good jobs for local tradies, including 55 apprentices.
“Our ROS program is all about providing significant upgrades to some of Queensland’s oldest schools.
“At 110 years, Bundaberg SHS definitely falls into that category – and new facilities are a great way to celebrate this impressive milestone!”
Bundaberg SHS Principal Christopher Gill said the projects had enabled the school to expand curriculum offerings and created more opportunities for students.
“To have a new multi-storey learning centre in a school more than a century old has transformed teaching and learning in a significant way,” Mr Gill said.
“It means we are delivering a STEM Advanced Manufacturing program in world-class facilities, with an extra three specialist science classrooms, three general learning spaces, a new library and conference rooms that match staff and student needs for 21st century learning.”
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said the new three storey learning centre and infrastructure investment also supported the broader Bundaberg community in addition to benefiting local young people.
“The STEM Advanced Manufacturing program meets the future needs of local industries while creating genuine career pathways for students,” Mr Smith said.
“Just a few weeks ago Minister Grace and I visited Kepnock State High School to announce a $9.4 million upgrade to the school’s Industrial Design and Technology Facilities, as well [as] $440,000 to refurbish learning spaces there.
“Other projects for Bundaberg schools announced in last month’s budget include $1.3 million for a new security fence and refurbishments at Bundaberg Central State School, $550,000 to refurbish the resource centre at Bundaberg North SHS, and $880,000 to upgrade learning and admin spaces at Bundaberg South SS.”
State school students in the region will also benefit from other features of the record $16.5 billion education budget including:
- 675 extra teachers and nearly 200 extra teacher aides in 2022-23 as part of an ongoing commitment to employ more than 6,100 new teachers and 1,100 teacher aides
- $20 million for playground and tuckshop upgrades
- The $100 million, four-year Go for Gold Fund for new and upgraded sports infrastructure for schools across the state
- $80.6 million to support schools to transition to a new resourcing model for students with disability
- $15.5 million for respectful relationships education
- $13.3 million to expand the partnership with Queensland-based charity Share the Dignity, giving all state schools the opportunity to install a vending machine that provides free period products
- Additional funding as part of our kindergarten funding reform package worth more than $1 billion over the next five years
See the new three storey learning centre while it was under construction in this video.
1. No building in our region is more then 40 years old a large amount of us who are still alive know this…
2. This building is a hideous eye sore.
3. What are you thinking Bundy high is the least needing an expansion of all high schools in the region. Kepnock SHS exceeded it’s current student limit in 1998 & is often much over this…