Students, teachers and staff in schools throughout Macarthur are set to swelter again this summer.
Figures obtained by NSW Labor show that a staggering 97 per cent of schools that applied for funding in round two of the Cooler Classrooms program have not received approval.
Which means just 15 schools out of 447 are getting the money for airconditioning.
Labor says the bungled program means students, teachers and staff in a raft of schools in the Macarthur region will again be forced to sit in sweatboxes again this summer.
The schools in the Macarthur region still waiting approval under round two of the program are: Campbelltown East Public School, Woodland Road Public School; Bringelly Public School; Elizabeth Macarthur High School; Harrington Park Public School; Luddenham Public School; Mount Annan High School; Narellan Public School; Rossmore Public School; and Wilton Public School.
Campbelltown MP Greg Warren, who is also shadow minister for Western Sydney, said the government’s flaky funding commitments would provide little comfort for students, teachers and staff this summer across our region.
“Anyone that has been forced to sit in a non-air-conditioned classroom in the height of summer knows just how uncomfortable the experience is,” Mr Warren said.
“The government has well and truly dropped the ball on this issue and it will be students, teachers and staff who pay the price for that negligence.”
Deputy NSW Labor leader and shadow minister for education, Prue Car (pictured with Mr warren above), chimed in, saying this was a government failure of epic proportions.
“We know how hot classrooms can get in South Western Sydney,” Ms Car said.
“It beggars belief that in 2021, so many schools through the state – including in the Macarthur region – will be without adequate air-conditioning because of the current government’s mismanagement.”
