Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA is calling for the State Government to intervene to help fix issues within a number of local schools, saying the damages are impacting the quality of education.
The Building Condition Assessment showed the state of public schools, with more than 10,000 defects identified state-wide to February 2024.
Among them included 106 defects reported in schools within the Geraldton electorate, with Rangeway Primary School accounting for more than 30 per cent of those.
Following the announcement of $11m to provide maintenance to schools, Ms Warr urged the State Government to ensure these upgrades take place in the regions, including in Geraldton.
“Our schools for years haven’t received the proper attention, and now the numbers tell a clear story,” she said.
“To hear of more than 100 issues within schools in my electorate is disappointing and shows a lack of interest from the State Government when it comes to providing quality education.
“Education needs to be taken seriously, and I’m calling on the State Government to urgently address these issues within our schools.”
In Parliament, Ms Warr has discussed the concerns around Geraldton Senior High School, calling for upgrades to ensure a positive environment for education.
She has previously addressed the state of education facilities in Geraldton, with transportables being used for classrooms, bathrooms, staff rooms, and administration blocks instead of addressing the issues directly.
“We know the regions are being dealt the same hand of more transportables. Many of them are in regional and remote schools serving some of our most vulnerable and at-risk students who are struggling with attendance and engagement,” she said.
“Students in these communities deserve safe, modern learning environments and the support they need to thrive, yet too often they are left behind.
“Holland Street is just one of the schools in the electorate that has the majority of its classrooms using transportables.
“This is not forward planning; it is a patchwork band-aid solution and it is failing our teachers, our students and our parents.”