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Coalition candidates call for more investment in ‘neglected’ primary schools

By Max Stainkamph

Aug 24, 2022

Heed our call: Liberal candidate for the seat of Shepparton Cheryl Hammer is calling for more investment in primary schools. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Liberal candidate for Shepparton Cheryl Hammer has called for more funding to be delivered to primary schools across the region.

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Shepparton has seen heavy investment in education over the past eight years but much of that has been focused on the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College and on early childhood education, leaving some public primary schools languishing with old facilities.

Ms Hammer has been been in close contact with three primary schools across the region, and said some of their facilities were in a sorry state.

“They’re not just tired, they’ve actually been neglected,” Ms Hammer said.

“We haven't seen a lot of investment in primary schools, particularly for a long time in our region.”

Making a point: Nationals candidate for Shepparton Kim O'Keeffe speaking on Tuesday at GV Health. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Ms Hammer said the Shepparton Education Plan focused heavily on the bookends of education in the city, and while she said it was “wonderful” to have investment in early education, it meant primary schools had slipped through the cracks.

“Education is definitely a high priority for our community and we will be absolutely continuing discussions about who needs what opportunities,” she said.

Nationals candidate for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said ensuring primary schools were up to scratch was important for the community.

“So much of our discussions about what the future looks like looks at expectations of education and facilities,” she said.

“I think that's something to definitely be prioritised.”