Mr Guy made the announcement in Shepparton on Thursday morning.
He said parent groups had repeatedly voiced their anger at the lack of choice in Greater Shepparton, since four schools were closed and amalgamated into the Greater Shepparton Secondary College, or ‘super school’ as it is known.
Mr Guy said if the Coalition won the state election in November the consultation process would consider what type of school it would be and its location.
“Choice is very important in education, and not just in a non-government sector, in the government sector as well,” Mr Guy said.
“Every parent, every child, deserves to have choice of education, so that schools can meet different demands and look at different ways of positioning themselves for the benefit of not just parents, but particularly kids.”
Shadow Education Minister David Hodgett said Greater Shepparton, with the population it had, should have more than one public secondary school, and committed a Coalition government to abiding by the outcomes of the consultation process.
“It's not for a politician, for a minister, the government, or indeed a government department, to tell you what your education needs are, or to dictate to you what the model for education should be for Shepparton,” he said.
“We're about genuine community consultation to determine the needs, to assess the needs for Greater Shepparton and then to move quickly to address those needs.”
Parents who have campaigned for another public secondary school to be made available to students in Greater Shepparton welcomed the Coalition’s commitment.
Robyn Boschetti said choice was needed for families whose children didn’t fit the ‘super school’ model.
“My child, who's on the spectrum, would never fit in that school. Where does he go? What choices do we have?” she said.
“I've had to make extreme arrangements to take him out of Shepparton to go to another school that will suit him. I'm lucky enough to do that, but I know parents who can't.
“We have fought this for four years. We want another school. Finally, someone is listening.”
Both Coalition candidates hoping to unseat independent Suzanna Sheed in the seat of Shepparton backed the announcement.
Liberal Cheryl Hammer agreed that the Greater Shepparton Secondary College model did not work for everyone.
“The Andrews Labor Government, along with Suzanna Sheed, will never admit the single-school public secondary education model they created simply does not work for everyone,” she said.
The Nationals’ Kim O’Keeffe said it was time for the single public school model to be abandoned.
“Shepparton was the guinea pig for this model and only a Liberals and Nationals Government will work with the community to provide a choice for everyone,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell also promised to listen to the views of the community.
“This will be genuine consultation with the community about what that school should look like and where that school should be located and you have my word that I will guarantee that that is genuine conversation,” she said.
Ms Sheed has previously said a second school would have to match the standards of the facilities offered at the GSSC and provide as much opportunity.
11°C