Tuart College extensions and new facilities

14/9/95

Extensions and new facilities costing almost $2 million at Tuart College are expected to ease the return of adult students to high school studies.

Education Minister Norman Moore today opened a 350-seat refectory and library extensions at the college, formerly a no-frills senior high school built in the 1950s.

The new facilities are the first in a three-part development plan that will provide a new user-friendly focus for the college's students, who are all 17 years and over.

Mr Moore said work on a student services centre - the next major development project - was due to begin in 1996.

"Adults seeking to continue or re-enter education at a secondary level are sometimes hesitant about the major step they are taking," the Minister said.

"They can feel even more daunted if they are greeted by a school-like atmosphere on campus.

"The new amenities reflect services found in TAFE colleges and universities and provide a meeting place for student-centred activities."

Mr Moore said the library extensions, which included seminar and computer rooms, more extensive areas for quiet study and group study, would also encourage the practice of independent learning, in keeping with education for life-long learning.

The facilities would be used day and night, as the college's flexible program catered for both year-long and 10-week short courses for matriculation, personal and intellectual development and secondary upgrading.  Currently the college had 1,760 students enrolled in year-long programs and 3,000 more would attend short courses during the year.

Mr Moore said the opening coincided with the first national Adult Learners' Week (September 10-16), which acknowledged that education was no longer a process only undertaken by the young.

"For Western Australia and the whole nation to reap the benefits of the true potential of the enormous pool of talent in our community, we have to recognise that education is a life-long experience," he said.

"On-going formal learning has become increasingly important for everyone and adult learning centres such as Tuart College have been developed and enhanced in response to community demand."

Mr Moore said the building program had been financed jointly by the Education Department and the college itself, which had contributed more than $800,000 by careful budgeting and planning of priorities.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444