State Education Minister James Merlino said the State Government was continuing to work to ensure the future of Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus when he visited the south-west on Thursday.
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Mr Merlino visited Warrnambool College as well as schools in Casterton and Portland during a two-day visit to the region.
“We're making a huge investment in our schools in the south-west, but it's also important that we provide genuine pathways for young people to tertiary pathways, TAFE pathways and training pathways,” he said.
He said Training and Skills Minister Steve Herbert was working with Deakin University and other groups in the region to ensure such pathways were secured for the future.
“It is a very important campus and it's just vital that we provide young people but also mature-age students with a pathway to university and TAFE education.”
Warrnambool College and Brauer College received a combined total of $8.6 million in the April state budget for the building upgrades.
Portland Bay School received $7 million for a new building and relocation while Portland Primary School, Portland Secondary School and Casterton Secondary College received smaller cash boosts.
Warrnambool College principal David Clift said the minister spoke to more than 100 students about the upgrades when he visited the school.
“We discussed the creation of learning hubs and different learning areas such as art technology, maths and English,” he said.
Mr Clift said three architectural firms were vying for the project and he hoped construction would start in mid-2017.
