The Lawler Labor Government is continuing to invest in high-quality education and ensuring proper planning occurs to get Territory students ready for the workforce.
Parents in Palmerston will soon have more choice in their child's education, with the Lawler Government investing $2 million in Budget 2024 to conduct assessments, consultations and planning to ensure school facilities meet the growth area's needs.
This work will include planning for a new special secondary school and planning for a new secondary school.
Currently secondary students who have disabilities attend the Palmerston Secondary Education Centre, which is a campus of Palmerston College.
Palmerston has a number of options for primary age students with a disability but needs new facilities for secondary age students.
These projects work alongside the Lawler Government's billion dollar investment into education which has seen all Territory Government schools fully funded and enabled expansion in the critical sector.
Parents deserve choice, this is why the Territory Government is looking at establishing a special secondary school in Palmerston.
Modelling shows major growth in the Palmerston region is expected with the current population of 40,000 to increase to over 58,000 by 2036 as Zuccoli, Durack and Farrar West continue to expand while new suburbs Holtze and Kowandi emerge.
It is expected over the coming years roughly 120 more students in Palmerston will require access to special education and 1000 additional students will enrol in the area.
As it stands, Palmerston College is experiencing growth across all student groups and is utilising general learning areas as special education classrooms, while popular primary school Zuccoli is expanding to meet demand with four new classrooms to be delivered by the end of the year.
As planning and assessments begin, parents, teachers and schools will be consulted to ensure the most optimal outcome is reached for all Palmerston residents and future students.
Quotes attributed to Chief Minister, Eva Lawler:
"Planning for the future needs of our students in Palmerston is critical to ensure local Territory students get the skills and education they need to be work ready
"Every Territory child deserves a quality education, and it is fundamentally important every parent has a choice in their child's education, which is why Palmerston needs a standalone government special secondary school.
"In 2024 alone, my Government has delivered a ground-breaking billion dollar agreement to fully fund Territory schools, a new education training centre in remote Central Australia, increased back to school vouchers, delivered a landmark report which shapes our students futures and now invested funding to greatly expand education in Palmerston."
Quotes attributed to Minister for Education, Mark Monaghan:
"No other Government has done more or will do more, than the Lawler Government for education in the Territory.
"Every single child, no matter their ability or where they live, deserves a quality education, and access to quality fit for purpose facilities, facilities which the Territory Labor Government will continue to deliver."
Northern Territory Government
