VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino joined students, staff and dignitaries at Greater Shepparton Secondary College on Friday to mark the college officially open.
Speaking at the official opening, alongside Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed, school captains and the school principal, Barbara O’Brien, Mr Andrews said that the new school is not a cost in the budget but “a profound investment,” in education.
Reflecting on his own growing up in the regional town of Wangaratta, Mr Andrews said, “Big things are happening in regional Victoria, big buildings, big ideas, big events.”
The brand-new facility, which is the product of merging four local secondary colleges, can cater for up to 2,700 students and is one part of the State Government’s $140M Shepparton Education Plan.
“By bringing them together we give students big school opportunities,” said Mr Merlino.
At the ceremony, Mr Merlino also announced that Shepparton was earmarked for one of the new Victorian Teaching and Leadership Academies, based in Melbourne and seven selected regions.
“We were letting students down, not getting the student outcomes or the opportunities that they deserve, so we needed to do something different,” he said.
According to Mr Merlino, the new campus has already allowed for the most comprehensive range of units available to students, with Year 9 students given the choice of 54 electives.
While the beginning of the school year has not been perfect – with police having been called to the school since opening and issues around parking and traffic – supporters say this is no different from any other school.
“The choice is about delivering every opportunity that young people need. The case for change was profound.”
The official ribbon was cut by school captains Ella-Rei Dunlop and Skyler Norton, with dignitaries Suzanna Sheed, Mark Gepp, James Merlino and Premier Daniel Andrews.
