ACT public schools have hit a new milestone by surpassing 50,000 enrolled students for the first time.
An increase of 2.3 per cent since last year, the achievement was announced by the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry who said the overall school census figures showed a total of 80,388 students have been enrolled in all the Territory’s school sectors .
“The proportion of families sending their children to public schools in Canberra has increased to 62.5 per cent of all students, up from 62.4 per cent in 2019 and well up from the 61 per cent figure in 2016,” Ms Berry said.
“Public schools saw more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in 2020, with 2,105 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in public schools, an increase of 108 students of 5.1 per cent from 2018,” she said.
“Across all 88 public schools there are approximately 6,600 classroom teachers, school leaders, principals and education support staff, including casual employees.”
Ms Berry said the Territory was expanding and building new schools across Canberra to keep up with the population growth.
“Canberra’s newest school in Molonglo is set to open its doors for the 2021 school year for preschool and primary school with the high school set to open in 2023,” she said.
“Construction will begin later this year for a new primary school in Throsby catering for kindergarten to year six which will open in 2022 and cater for 450 and up to 132 pre-schoolers.”
Ms Berry said plans were also underway for a new high school in Kenny.
