Budget boost to recover lost learning time

Central Coast students will now have the option of a free tutor and parents will receive childcare funding support, as part of the State Budget released on Tuesday, November 17.

Over $19.7B will be invested into NSW Education over the next year.

An investment of $337M over the 2021 school year has been dedicated to delivering intensive tutoring for up to 290,000 students in NSW schools.

The NSW Government says this will be supporting students to recover lost learning time as a result of the COVID-19 shutdowns in early 2020.

Local parents sending their three to five-year-olds to childcare are also winners, with $120M put towards extending the existing free preschool program to the end of 2021.

This funding will support around 44,000 children attending community preschool in over 700 community and mobile preschools across the NSW.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said she hopes this funding will relieve some of the stress put on the state’s students, teachers and parents.

“We are investing in our students who will be our future mechanics, doctors and small business owners,” she said.

“We’re laying the foundations and boosting the facilities that our kids need to have the best success in life.”

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said supporting the education system and investing in boosting outcomes were paramount to a prosperous, post-pandemic economy.

“Schools have seen a year like no other, and this budget will support students from their very first years to their last,” he said.

“Making sure our students in preschool, primary school and high school have not fallen behind during the pandemic is key to our recovery.”

Central Coast Public Schools will also be receiving new LED lights thanks to $158M committed to installing these statewide over the next two years.

Source:
Media release, Nov 17
NSW Government