The Finocchiaro CLP Government has announced $3.5 million in funding in the 2026/27 budget for the remote Barkly School of Alekarange.Funding will provide a new administration block, giving teachers an upgraded space, and return the current building used for administration to a classroom.Minister for Education and Training Jo Hersey says she wants to see the investment result in even further school attendance improvements at Alekarenge School.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to support remote schools in their year of Growth, Certainty and Security, today announcing $3.5 million in funding for upgrades at Alekarenge School as part of the 2026/27 budget.
The funding will go towards a new administration block as a modular build, giving teachers a fit-for-purpose, upgraded space, and deliver improvements to the early learning facility.
The current administration building will be returned as a regular classroom, boosting operational capacity.
The early learning centre proposed improvements include replacing the ceiling, new lighting, upgrade of the kitchenette and dining area, and upgraded outdoor learning areas.
The improvements will support early learning, with the upgraded facility available for use by the Preschool and FaFT (families as First Teachers) programs.
19 children participated in the FaFT program during Term 3, 2025, with some of these students expected to progress into preschool from Term 3, 2026, and the school had an average enrolment of 86 students in 2025.
Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said the funding would go a long way towards improving school attendance at Alekarenge School.
"We're supporting teachers in Ali Curung with better facilities, so they can provide the best education for their students," Mrs Hersey said.
"Increased participation in early learning, with improved facilities, supports and encourages school attendance from a young age.
"We want to see this investment result in even further school attendance improvements at Alekarenge School."
CLP Government Minister and Member for Barkly, Steven Edgington, said he was proud to deliver upgraded schools in the Barkly.
"The 2026 budget is about delivering certainty and Ali Curing families have certainty for a better early education for their children with the upgrades to the early learning centre and for our teachers with a new administration building allowing the current building to return to use as a classroom," he said.
"This is a wonderful investment that will encourage children to attend school more and get a better education in Ali Curung."
Alekarenge School increased their school attendance from 23.9% in 2024 to 30.1% in 2025 and enrolment from 78 to 86 students over the same period.
