The Education Minister is spending $1 million on air conditioning upgrades for bureaucrats – despite failing to dedicate any specific funding to air condition NSW classrooms in the hottest parts of the State in the 2011/12 Budget.

“Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has got his priorities all wrong when it comes to air conditioning NSW classrooms,” Opposition Leader, John Robertson said.

“At the same time the Minister is spending $1 million on air conditioning upgrades for his bureaucrats, he has failed to dedicate any specific funds to air conditioning school classrooms in the 2011/12 Budget.

“Education Minister Adrian Piccoli needs to explain to students and teachers sitting in the sweltering heat why he is funding air conditioning upgrades for office blocks at the expense of NSW classrooms.

“Prior to the election, Adrian Piccoli couldn’t stop talking about air conditioning classrooms – now we see him splashing the cash on air conditioning for bureaucrats at the same time he is refusing to deliver air conditioners for NSW schools.”

Shadow Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt said the Minister had talked up air conditioning for classrooms prior to the election but failed to take action.

“If the Education Minister was serious about air conditioning schools, he would have provided funding in the 2011/12 Budget papers,” Ms Tebbutt said.

“We all know how important a cool and comfortable classroom is for teaching and learning.

“It is completely unfair for students to sweat it out in our classrooms when the Education Minister made out during the election campaign that he was going to solve the problem.”