Liberals promise $133,000 for schools

Six schools in the Peninsula area would receive a total of $133,100 for new teachers and school maintenance under a Liberal Government, according to the NSW opposition leader Mr Barry O'Farrell.

This would be part of a Local Schools, Local Decisions Action Plan that will be implemented if Liberal is elected in March, he said.

Under the plan, Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus would receive $11,200, Ettalong Public School would receive $21,600, Umina Public School would receive $29,000, Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus would receive $9500, Empire Bay Public School would receive $16,800, Pretty Beach Public School would receive $5400, Woy Woy Public School would receive $18,100 and Woy Woy South Public School would receive $21,500.

"Every child has the right to achieve in reading, writing and maths," Mr O'Farrell said.

"State Government has a responsibility to provide children with a solid education that equips them with the skills they need to succeed.

"That's why a NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver approximately 40 additional teachers across the Central Coast to help improve children's literacy and numeracy skills through an expansion of the Reading Recovery Program and ensuring it also includes numeracy," said Mr O'Farrell.

Minister for Education and Training Ms Verity Firth said Mr O'Farrell is too late with his promise.

"Reading Recovery teachers are a great idea. That's why Labor introduced them in 1996 and we now have more than 1000 across NSW helping students with reading difficulties."

Mr O'Farrell said he planned to focus on early intervention and target students most in need.

"It provides the best chance to identify and address learning difficulties before it's too late.

"Under the program, children at risk of falling behind will have access to one-on-one intensive support to help them with basic literacy and numeracy skills.

"We will also deliver the funding needed to ensure children benefit from learning environments that are clean, safe and in good condition," Mr O'Farrell said.

Media Release, 31 Jan 2011 Jaymes Boland-Rudder, Office of Barry O'Farrell MP Email, 15 Feb 2011 Samantha Willis, Office of Verity Firth MP