St John’s Regional College students will soon be learning in new facilities, thanks to a $3 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, today visited St John’s Regional College to announce the $3 million investment toward its new Junior STEM Centre.

The project will ensure that St John’s Regional College teachers have first-class facilities to give their students the 21^st century education they deserve.

The school is one of dozens that will share in more than $70 million to build and upgrade facilities, giving students better schools and the best start in life.

Victoria is growing faster than any other state, with 115,000 extra students expected to enter the education system over the next five years. With more than one-third of students in Victoria attending non-government schools, the Labor Government is ensuring these sectors are also capable of helping the state meet this demand.

The Labor Government’s $402 million Non-Government Schools Capital Fund will be distributed over four years and is for building new schools as well as increasing capacity or upgrading facilities at existing schools. It also supports removal of asbestos and cladding in these schools.

The Labor Government has also introduced a streamlined planning permit process for non-government schools that receive funding under the fund. The process will boost the capacity of the education sector to effectively manage current and forecast demand for school infrastructure in the state.

The announcement today is part of a record $1.82 billion investment in Victoria’s education infrastructure in the Victorian Budget 2019/20 – delivering on the Labor Government’s promise to make Victoria the Education State.