WARRNAMBOOL'S Emmanuel College has been promised $5 million to expand if the Liberal Nationals win the state election.
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Opposition spokesman for Education Tim Smith visited the college to make the announcement on Monday.
He said Premier Daniel Andrews had lost control of population and that was putting enormous pressure on schools.
Mr Smith said that was why an elected Liberal Nationals Government would invest $5 million to upgrade Emmanuel College.
That would provide funding for a new wing at Ardlie Street to enable the school to move Year 11 and 12 students onto the main campus and create a dedicated Year 9 campus on the Canterbury Road site.
The announcement is part of the Liberal Nationals commitment of $400 million for capital upgrades for non-government schools.
“We want to work with non-government schools to give all Victorian families choice in education. I am delighted to be able to announce this $5 million investment in Emmanuel College as part of our $400 million commitment to non-government schools," Mr Smith said.
"Only the Liberal Nationals have a plan to get back in control of the population squeeze and give parents the choice and children the best opportunities in their education.”
Emmanuel College principal Peter Morgan welcomed the support and said the funding, if it came through, would be an enormous boost to the college and its expansion plans.
Liberal incumbent for South West Coast, Roma Britnell, said Emmanuel College was one of the largest secondary schools in Warrnambool and had a wide catchment area that extended to Port Fairy, Hawkesdale and Panmure.
“Emmanuel College has an important role to play in the education sector in Warrnambool," she said.
"We are all about choice and having good Catholic and independent schools helps spread the load.
"Having all the students, staff and resources on the one campus will streamline logistics and mean students spend more time in the classroom, rather than walking between the campuses.
"I’ve fought hard to ensure some of the funding set aside for capital improvements at Catholic and independent schools has flowed into South West Coast.”
Mrs Britnell said the Liberal Nationals supported a strong public and private education system because the coalition believed in giving parent’s some choice.
The announcement of $5 million for Emmanuel College was a vital investment in this growing regional area, she said.
