Premier launches $2.5m Flinders Park Primary School early education centre

Flinders Park Primary School students helped Premier Mark McGowan cut the ribbon at the launch of the school’s “state-of-the-art” $2.5 million early childhood centre on Tuesday. Mr McGowan said the new facility, equipped with early childhood play equipment and soft-fall flooring, would support children for generations to come. “This is an election promise that we’ve delivered, which will ensure the highest quality educational facilities for students here at Flinders Park,” he said. “Early childhood is very important in our country, and making sure that when you’re four and five you get the foundation stones of a very good education, is very important to us.” The Premier made education a focus of his trip to Albany, visiting Albany Senior High School later in the afternoon to launch a new Gifted and Talented Program — the second of its kind in regional WA. The program will welcome up to 32 selected Year 7 students in 2022, replacing the school’s online Gifted and Talented Program. “By introducing this new program, students with exceptional academic ability from Albany will now be able to reach their potential face-to-face with their teachers,” he said. More than $250,000 will be allocated to the program in its first year, with $350,000 per year to follow once the program is running with students from Years 7-12. ASHS principal Jenny Firth said it had been challenging for students taking part in the online version of the program. “Due to their lack of connection with the rest of the cohort for the 16 periods a week, the disconnect between timetables, between schools and the need for that supportive and nurturing face-to-face environment to give them the best opportunities,” she said.