Millner Primary School Receives Funding Boost

The Member for Solomon, Mr David Tollner MP today announced Federal Government funding for Millner Primary School following the official completion of the school's Information Technology Learning Community Scheme.

Millner Primary School received $47,956 under the Investing in Our Schools Programme and have also been successful in Round Three of the programme.

Funding of $47,956 has allowed the school to purchase a mobile laboratory comprising a class set of 20 laptop computers on a trolley. The new computers replace existing outdated computers and include a number of software licenses. The Mobile Computer Classroom can be 'wheeled' into any of the schools 10 classrooms and enable that class to become a computer lab.

With 255 students at Millner Primary school, the use of computers and the integration of Information Communications Technology (ICT) into classroom pedagogy is essential for enhancing literacy and numeracy outcomes. Millner Primary School also serves the families from the local Indigenous communities of Kulaluk and Minmarama. These families are now able to borrow the new laptops and take them home for short periods of time. The families will also be invited to attend free training programs on the use of computers, the Internet, and online learning programs.

The $1 billion Investing in Our Schools Programme was announced by the Prime Minister during the 2004 Federal Election campaign and in February 2007, was increased by an additional $181 million.
The Programme now provides $827 million for government schools to fund small scale infrastructure projects identified and prioritised by school communities. A further $354 million is provided for non-government schools.

By focusing on delivering small-scale projects that have been identified as a priority by school communities, the Australian Government is providing local communities with a voice to determine what they think is important for their schools.

Successful applications for 2006 Round Three have been announced, bringing the total amount of approved projects for IOSP funding to more than 15,000, providing important benefits to around 6161 government schools across Australia.

Government school communities are able to apply for funding for such projects as air-conditioning, shade structures, computer equipment and upgrades, musical and sporting equipment.

Funding under the Programme is in addition to the nearly $1.7 billion provided by the Australian Government to support government school capital works projects undertaken by State and Territory Governments over the 2005-2008 quadrennium.

2007-04-27