Arabic version: النقابة تطالب بتمويل أكبر لكلية أليس سبرينغز

According to ABC News, the Northern Territory branch of the Australian Education Union and members of the school community say the $500,000 allocated for works connected to the Alice Springs College merger will not cover the infrastructure required.

Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College are due to merge from the start of 2027, forming Alice Springs College at the current Centralian Middle School site in Gillen. Concerns raised by the community include whether classrooms, the hall and library can accommodate additional students, as well as the need to upgrade science and computer laboratories and the home economics kitchen.

AEU NT branch president Brian Gray said the school required repainting, had ineffective air conditioning and lifts that were broken or repeatedly broke, creating accessibility problems. He said staff and families also wanted clarity on how the $500,000 would be spent and when works would be finished. Mr Gray contrasted the allocation with a $14 million announcement for new sports facilities next to the CMS site.

Centralian Senior College school council chair Rachel Neary described the allocation as “woefully inadequate” and called for needs-based funding. She said Palmerston schools had received more than $100 million for upgrades to science laboratories, technology areas and home economics rooms. Ms Neary said the merger was an opportunity to create something significant for young people in Central Australia.

Department of Education acting deputy chief executive Miranda Watt said more funding would be provided, although the amount had not been decided. She said it would likely support updates including science labs and disability access. Ms Watt said CMS had previously enrolled more than 1,000 students and that updating spaces and reinstating walls could allow many students to attend, while other large areas could be used for assemblies if the hall proved inadequate.