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Free Text Books for Secondary School Students

Promise of new free textbooks for secondary schoold students if the Nationals get elected.

By Portal Admin - 22nd October 2018 - Back to News

Students will get free textbooks if The Nationals are elected to government in November, saving families with two secondary school children up to $1000 a year, Sheridan Bond, The Nationals candidate for Morwell has announced.

Ms Bond said relieving the burden of purchasing school textbooks each year will ease the mounting financial pressure on families to meet the growing cost-of-living.

"School textbooks are a significant expense that comes about each January for Latrobe Valley families with students in secondary school – having to pay for textbooks so soon after Christmas can be stressful," Ms Bond said.

"The free school textbook program will save some families of two secondary students around $1,000 a year.

"We have three large public secondary schools – Traralgon College, Kurnai College and Lowanna College – in the Latrobe Valley and we also have many Valley based students travelling to Trafalgar High. So, the free school book program will help many of our local families.

"The Nationals understand Victorian families are doing it tough with cost-of-living pressures, especially families with school children.

"With sky rocketing energy prices and so many new taxes introduced by Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government we are working on new ways to help families get back in control of finances and ease the pressure."

Prior to the last election Daniel Andrews promised ‘no new taxes’ but since then he has introduced or increased 12 taxes. Victorians’ taxes have gone up by 35 per cent since he was elected.

"On top of Labor’s new taxes, average household electricity bills are up by more than $300 a year because Daniel Andrews refused to stop the closure of Hazelwood," Ms Bond said.

"This has had a significant effect on the Latrobe Valley community more than anywhere in the state in terms of economic impact."

The new Free School Books for Students program will provide funding to government schools to purchase school text books for students. Students will be expected to maintain the books and return them in good condition at the end of the semester or year.

While this policy principally applies to hard copy text books, the Department will also work with schools to improve the procurement of texts in digital format.


The Nationals candidate for Morwell, Sheridan Bond celebrates the announcement for free school books with Latrobe Valley secondary school students Lauren, Sarah, Charley and Chloe.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com