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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (22 April) . . Page.. 1249 ..


Reported Excess Space in ACT Schools

(Question No. 112)

Mr Berry

asked the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 23 March 1999:

(1) What was the methodology used to estimate excess space in schools.

(2) What were the estimates of cost per student of excess space in the school system and what

methodology was used in their preparation.

(3) For each school

  1. what tenants (educational, community, other government agency, commercial

or other use the school;

(b) how much space is used by each; and

(c) what is the annual rental income in place for each tenant.

(4) What is the level of government subsidy applying to bus travel by students

(a) within zones; and

(b) across zones.

Mr Stefaniak

: The answers to Mr Berry's questions are:

(1) The calculations of excess or surplus space in schools, is based on a process of comparing new school classroom provision, as set out in the brief for new schools, with existing spaces in schools. Where necessary, adjustments are made for older schools to recognise the need for audio-visual rooms, reading recovery and ESL rooms. In certain circumstances, recognition is also made for design limitations of existing schools.

Once these adjustments have been taken into account, the total existing capacity figure is calculated on the basis that colleges and high schools accommodate an average class size of 19 students per teaching space and primary schools 30 students per teaching space. The estimate of surplus space is then derived by subtracting enrolments from the capacity figure.

(2) The estimated cost of excess space in ACT schools has been derived by a whole of school approach for average sized schools. Costs for 1998 have been used.

The costs used comprise those which are site specific, in other words all enrolment based costs are excluded. These costs include such items as salaries for the principal, registrar and bursar and non salary operational costs such as utilities, cleaning, maintenance and irrigation costs.

The site cost per student for an average school are as follows:


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