Revised timelines for the release of early years, primary and tertiary education plans have now been pushed back to the end of May, a spokesperson from the Department of Education said.
The Victorian Government first announced it would develop a Shepparton Education Plan in 2017, to boost educational outcomes in the region from early years to secondary schooling and beyond.
Its initial document, released in April of 2018, laid out the timelines for the consultation and development process of four stages of education: early childhood, primary, secondary and higher education.
Stage 1 of the plan saw the merger of four public secondary schools and the creation of Greater Shepparton Secondary College, which is expected to welcome students in Term 1 of 2022.
But a plan for early childhood and primary education, that was to be developed by December of 2018, and a higher education and skills plan that was to have been completed by June 2019, still haven't been released.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell questioned why the timelines to deliver key stages of the plan hadn't been met — three years on from the government's initial announcement.
“This is another example of a government that is all spin and no substance, while the community are forced to sit and wait with great uncertainty as to what the future of education in Greater Shepparton will look like in the years ahead,” she said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education said the $120 million investment to build Greater Shepparton Secondary College was the "cornerstone" of the government's "long-term vision" to reshape education in the region.
“Extensive stakeholder and community consultation is informing the development of the early years, primary and tertiary education plans, however this was impacted and slowed by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown,” the spokesperson said.
“During this period that priority was given to supporting early childhood services and schools to provide effective remote learning programs.”
An Integrated Early Learning Centre within the grounds of Mooroopna Primary School, built in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council, will be a key pillar of the early years education plan.
The centre will provide kindergarten, long day-care, maternal healthcare and related services.
The spokesperson said consultation had "since resumed", with the early years and primary plans expected to be released by the end of March, and the tertiary plan by the end of May.
But Ms Lovell said she had first raised the issue of timelines being met when the deadline lapsed in October 2019, and Education Minister James Merlino had again failed to meet a revised timeline for early to mid 2020.
“Mr Merlino has failed to meet his own revised timelines to deliver the final two stages of theplan, raising the question whether these plans are being developed in secret,” Ms Lovell said.
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