Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney MLA is calling on the Education Minister to reverse her intention to alter the management and running of the Geraldton Camp School.

‘It is still a huge concern that the Minister has not set out a framework outlining the future management of the Geraldton Camp School’, said Mr Blayney.

‘The camp school is extremely popular and is used by many schools in the area. The delay in clarifying how this facility will be run in 2019 is causing angst among many members of the community.

‘The camp school is particularly important for those children who receive their education through SOTA. Most of these children live in isolated areas and coming together at the camp school to take part in leadership activities and team building tasks plays an invaluable role in the learning experience.

‘I disagree with the Minister’s statement that camp schools are not the ‘core business of education’. Education encompasses so much more than learning literacy and numeracy.

‘Education is about nurturing the whole child, allowing them to grow, and develop socially and emotionally, as well as academically. The Geraldton Camp School allows for just that. And it’s one of the only facilities in the Midwest that does.

‘I am calling on the Minister to immediately re-consider her plans to change the management of this facility.

‘The camp school has serviced the Midwest community successfully for a long time. To change this exceptional service would be a big mistake.’