BY JESSICA ROUSE


Opposition Leader Luke Foley visited Medowie yesterday committing to build the high school which was promised 15 years ago.



But the state government have been quick to say it’s no longer needed in the area because since it was initially required both Irrawang and Hunter River High Schools are now both under capacity.





There was talk of building a high school for Medowie back in the early 2000’s, but now in 2017 the need is no longer there according to the Department of Education. Both Irrawang and Hunter River High are at 1,539 students which is under capacity.







Luke Foley & Kate Washington in Medowie on

Tuesday.



Image: Twitter @Luke_FoleyNSW


Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the figures aren’t that different to back in 1996 so he just doesn’t see the point.






“It’s just disappointing that the Opposition Leader won’t take the advice of the Department of Education which is very clear in this case that in the Medowie area we need to back the two schools that are there now – Irrawang and Hunter River High – and not build and not promise to build a high school that’s not needed for many many years.”




The Opposition Leader also called on the current government to step in and make a move towards building a school, but the government won’t have any of that.



“What this is, is a political statement not an education statement. It would penalise the school communities and the students of Irrawang High and Hunter River High. There is capacity at those schools, it would mean weaker subject choice for those schools and they would be even further under capacity,” said Scot MacDonald.