Back to school: Campaign pledges for free lunch, school makeovers and tech colleges
As students head back to the classroom today, the state election campaign is seeing parties announce new education promises on building upgrades, trade support and a bid to make public education free.
The Malinauskas Labor government has backed in its commitment to building technical colleges in South Australia, announcing today it will build three more should it win the upcoming state election.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has announced its cornerstone education policy: a $120 million spend on infrastructure upgrades at school, preschool and childcare sites.
And the SA Greens want to scrap public school fees and introduce free breakfast and lunches, a policy announced today as students head back to the classroom across South Australia.
Two of Labor’s promised technical colleges would be in metro Adelaide, and one in regional South Australia, with the election mandate revealed as Premier Peter Malinauskas opened the Tonsley Technical College today.
The election commitment has a $150 million price tag, and will capitalise upon demand for a skilled workforce in jobs around the multibillion-dollar AUKUS nuclear submarine program, ramping up copper production in South Australia and high-tech careers.
Policy documents from Labor claim SA will need 165,000 additional workers over the next decade in those industries, with the AUKUS program alone requiring “thousands of additional qualified people each year”.
Labor took the technical college policy to the 2022 state election as a mandate. The party promised to build five new technical colleges, which have cost $209 million to date.
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Four of the five have opened, including Findon Technical College and Port Augusta Technical College. Tonsley Technical College and The Heights Technical College both opened today, and the state government anticipates Mount Barker Technical College will be open by February 2, 2026.
Students in years 10 to 12 can complete their SACE and a vocational education qualification simultaneously at the alternative education centres, with a guaranteed job at the end through corporate partners like BAE, ASC, Boeing, SA Power Networks, Bluescope and more.
“By providing real on-the-job experience for young people while simultaneously achieving their SACE, Technical Colleges are attracting young people to undertake vocational training,” Premier Peter Malinauskus said.
“Not every student needs to go to university, nor should they.
“Whether you want to build homes, or nuclear-powered submarines, fix cars or planes, these technical colleges are a pathway to do just that, while you are still at school.”
Hurn’s big school infrastructure spend
The Opposition was also out today making education policy announcements, with a $120 million spend the centrepiece of its election promises.
If elected, the Liberals would use the funds on maintenance works and new facilities.
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The policy was announced at Linden Park Primary School, that school would receive $1.6 million under the plan for urgent maintenance works and a new playground.
“At Linden Park Primary School, there are buildings that are literally falling apart, with cracked internal walls, threadbare carpets, and leaky roofs,” Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn said.
“This investment will allow the school to address urgent infrastructure needs and deliver a new playground at its Mariner Oval site, improving both safety and learning outcomes for students.
“With the average school building around 44 years old, our plan focuses on refreshing and maintaining existing sites so they’re safe, comfortable and fit for the future.”
Opposition education spokesperson Jack Batty said his party would also commission an assessment of school infrastructure and develop minimum standard criteria for school infrastructure.
Ambitious Greens plot to dump school fees
Meanwhile, the SA Greens also announced its education plan to scrap public school fees and introduce free school breakfasts and lunches in all public schools.
Dumping the materials and services charges and other subject fees for parents would cost $240 million over four years, the SA Greens estimated.
A universal, free healthy breakfast and lunch program in every state primary and secondary school was another pitch from the minor party.
SA Greens pointed to a recent recommendation from State Parliament’s Social Development Committee, which called on the Education Minister to develop a school-provided meal program in all public schools.
SA Greens MLC Robert Simms said the initiatives would help address the cost-of-living crisis for families.
“We’re in the middle of an economic crisis and many families are struggling to put food on the table,” Simms said.
“Many places around the world, like Norway and France, provide free school breakfasts and lunches. It’s time for SA to do the same. This would ensure that all children in our state have access to healthy, nutritious meals and are able to realise their full potential in the classroom.
“Free school lunches would reduce pressure on parents, improve educational outcomes and ensure that every South Australian child has access to healthy, nutritious food. Parliament’s Social Development Committee investigated models last year and made some very sensible recommendations. The Greens will be urging the next Government to implement these.”
