School wins tech funding

By Kelly Yates
CRANBOURNE Secondary College is celebrating after receiving $75,796 to upgrade the school’s technical equipment in the State Budget.
The grants will enable the schools involved to provide state-of-the-art technical and vocational training.
Cranbourne Secondary College principal Yvonne Watts said the school was excited to get the technology funding.
She said the funding would make a huge difference to the school, as it would now have the ability to update equipment in the woodwork, food and metal areas in the school.
Schools can purchase, hire, refurbish or maintain technical equipment used in technology studies, Vocational and Education Training in Schools (VET) or similar programs. This includes items such as computer aided drafting and manufacturing equipment and software, machining equipment, digital lathes and automotive and engineering equipment.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said the grants showed the Government’s commitment to providing students with the facilities they needed for a 21st century curriculum. He said schools could also pool their funding with nearby schools to provide or expand technical training in a particular industry area.
“Investment in vocational and technical education is increasingly important because it helps develop a skilled workforce and keeps young people involved in the education system,” he said.
The new funding will help achieve the Government’s target of 90 per cent of young people completing Year 12 or its equivalent by 2010.
News of the funding capped off a great week for Cranbourne Secondary College teachers, who were also celebrating the Government accepting to make Victorian teachers the highest-paid in Australia.