Five independent and Catholic schools in New South Wales will receive almost $16 million in funding to build new preschools. Source: SMH.
The funding has been awarded to five non-government schools across Sydney and south-west NSW to build new preschools, as part of a $60 million NSW Government program to build and upgrade 50 preschools co-located within independent and Catholic schools.
The state has also pledged to build 100 new public preschools by 2027.
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said the grants for non-government schools would “unlock more early learning places in growing areas”.
To be eligible, non-government schools must be within a “high-growth area”. They will be selected based on socio-economic status, student demographics, and whether they are a special school.
Enrolments in independent and Catholic schools have surged in recent years, with more than one in three NSW students attending a non-government school.
The principal of St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School, Holsworthy, Linda O’Regan said having a preschool onsite would help children transition into school.
She said it would be a great way for the school to know its young learners better and more thoroughly before they arrive at school, providing for better planning and readiness.
Opposition education spokesperson Sarah Mitchell noted Labor had promised 50 preschools for non-government schools since 2023.
Ms Mitchell said nearly a third of the allocated funding is being spent on just five preschools, “so it’s pretty clear most of these so-called ‘new’ preschools will be minor upgrades to existing services rather than genuinely new facilities”.
FULL STORY
Sydney private schools to receive cash for new preschools (By Emily Kowal, SMH)