EDUCATION —
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
692. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to a 2016 Grattan Institute
report that estimated that the number of school students in Western Australia
would balloon by nearly 60 000, or 16.8 per cent, by 2026, requiring the
building of an additional 72 new schools in WA. I also refer to the minister's
recent answer to question without notice 456 that states —
The
Department of Education has a plan to increase the number of international
students in WA schools �
(1) How many schools have been built
in WA since 2016?
(2) How many schools are currently
being built in WA to meet this new demand?
(3) How many schools are currently
at the formal planning stage?
(4) Is the government expecting any
federal funding to build new schools?
(5) If yes to (4), how much?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Twenty-one new schools opened
between 2016 and 2019.
(2) Seven schools are currently being built to cater
for growing enrolments, one of which is the extension of Grandis Primary School
to provide kindergarten to year 6. All new public schools are built to cater
for increasing enrolment demand. International students enrol only when there
is existing space in old or new schools.
(3) Seven new schools have been
announced and are in the planning stage.
(4) No.
(5) Not applicable.
As part of the state government
commitment to diversify jobs through international education and to support the
''Where Bright Futures Begin: International Education in Perth, Western Australia
2018–2025'' strategy, the Department of Education has developed
a five-year plan to grow the number of international students.