SCHOOLS — STEM UPGRADES — FUNDING
884. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I
refer to the answer provided to question on notice 860 on 20 September 2022
with regard to school STEM upgrades and the reference that ''approximately
8% of the project budget is allocated for furniture and specialist equipment to
enable schools to deliver STEM programs.''
(1) Can the minister advise whether science resource
grants and/or extra funding over and above the eight per cent allocated will be made available to schools for
the purchase of additional and necessary specialist equipment for these
STEM facilities, in cases in which they are not already well equipped for such
subjects?
(2) If yes to (1), will the
minister provide more detail?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I note that the number the member referred to in
her question was incorrect; it is question on notice 849. That is for someone
trying to look at Hansard in the future.
(1)–(3) The figure of eight per cent is an indicative
percentage of the project budget spend on furniture and specialist
equipment. The allowance within the project budget will vary depending on the
scope and the school's existing
equipment. The project scope is developed in consultation with the school and
includes the agreed budget allowance
to accommodate the equipment needs for the upgraded science, technology,
engineering and mathematics facilities.