Students at Cudgegong Valley Public School are benefitting from improvements in their classrooms and reductions in their power bills thanks to the NSW Government’s LED Lighting Upgrade Program.
The $157.8 million program, launched as a stimulus response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is seeing fluorescent lights replaced with more energy efficient LED lights in primary and high schools across NSW.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the upgrade is not only supporting students and teachers, but jobs as well.
“We’ve all experienced those flickering fluorescent lights, which are not only bad for the eyes but expensive to run and replace,” Mr Saunders said.
“This program has been able to support regional businesses in the installation of LED lights, and it’ll save schools money on their energy bills as well.
“It’s just one of the ways we’re committed to providing modern facilities for students and teachers in NSW public schools.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said research has shown that improved lighting has a positive impact on students’ education.
“The NSW Government is not only investing record amounts in new and upgraded schools, but we’re also improving existing classrooms, libraries and other facilities for students right across NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It’s all part of our plans to make sure every student has access to modern learning facilities.”
LED lighting upgrades are in the process of being delivered at another 16 schools across the Dubbo electorate.
The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure.