The Minister for Education, Rob Stokes, visited the electorate on Wednesday to join local member Paul Toole in making the announcement that the Bathurst schools were receiving the infrastructure under the NSW Government’s Cooler Classrooms program.

More from the NSW Government Cabinet visit:

Mr Stokes said the provision of airconditioning would ensure that staff and students remained comfortable all year round.  

“We will now have more schools than anywhere else in the country that are fully airconditioned,” he said. 

Schools with an average maximum January temperature of 30 degrees or more will now automatically receive airconditioning in their classrooms and libraries.

All other schools can apply for funding under the program on a needs basis. 

Among the schools receiving airconditioning is Bathurst South Public School, which has 240 students and 10 classes. 

Principal Greg Cross said, until now, the only room within the school to have airconditioning was a demountable classroom.

Having the option of using airconditioning will make a big difference to the school, particularly during the summer months. 

“With the Bathurst extreme heat and also the minus six and seven [degree] winters that we get, the ability to take the edge of both extremes will mean kids can be in classrooms feeling comfortable, which will give us the best opportunity to get maximum learning outcomes for them and staff as well,” Mr Cross said. 

Other schools set to receive airconditioning are Bathurst Public School, Black Springs Public School, Blayney High School, Blayney Public School, Kandos High School, Glen Alice Public School, Kelso Public School, Lyndhurst Public School, Mandurama Public School, Rylstone Public School and Zig Zag Public School.

While the main reason for his visit was for the announcement, Mr Stokes also had the chance to see Bathurst South students learning through new technology. 

The students of 1 Orange, led by their teacher, Kristine Grimshaw, showed their ministerial guests their newly-acquired robotics skills. 

“It’s fabulous to see the teaching practice that focuses on collaboration amongst students and how engaged students are in their learning through the use of technology,” Mr Stokes said. 

“They’re learning without realising that’s what they are doing.”