Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the house about the details of grants to the Tea Tree Gully Toy Library and, in particular, whether the government has or has not increased funding to the Tea Tree Gully Toy Library over what the previous government was providing?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:13): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house on measures being undertaken to better support TAFE SA and advise what challenges the organisation is dealing with?

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:13): Thank you very much, sir, and I am very pleased to have this important question from the member for Hammond, who understands how important TAFE SA is not just for the students studying but also for the needs of South Australian businesses that have workforce needs and for the South Australian economy as a whole.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the house about the recent success of South Australian school students in an international scientific competition?

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house regarding STEM Works being undertaken in my electorate of Mount Gambier?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —the STEM Works program, which of course was announced a few years ago, including a $250 million investment by the taxpayers of South Australia announced by the former minister and supported by the opposition to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics facilities in our schools around South Australia, is underway. Those works are underway. A number of them have been opened, and I have been pleased to assist in local members' participation in a number of those openings.

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (15:04): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the year 1 phonics check?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:05): I am very pleased to do so. It's a question that is something that I think all members of the house will be very pleased to hear about because this is something that every member of this house can stand together in pride—that South Australia is leading the nation. I thank the shadow minister for education for the trial that was undertaken of the year 1 phonics check last year. The analysis that she commissioned of Flinders University, which was released after the election, showed that the trial went well.

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (15:20): My question is for the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the house whether students at Tea Tree Gully and other TAFE campuses will continue to be supported in their training?

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister outline to the house the benefits of the government's response to the TAFE Strategic Capability Review and related measures contained in the budget?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Thank you, sir. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to talk about TAFE and the way that this government has stepped in to rescue TAFE from the dilapidation and the disarray in which it was left by those opposite. A $109 million rescue package was necessary for TAFE SA due to the work of the Labor Party in destroying that proud institution over a long period of time.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister please advise the house on the progress of primary school children attending non-government schools in the electorate of Frome being able to get access to the state government school bus system? With your leave and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: There have been occasions some families are experiencing where the child attending a public high school can access the government school bus system while their brother or sister, who may be attending a non-government primary school, cannot access the state government school bus system and has to follow in their parent's car.

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (24 July 2018). Can the minister guarantee that John Pirie Secondary School will receive $10 million under the Building Better Schools Infrastructure Program and be able to progress with plans to build new facilities for the middle school precinct, indoor/outdoor learning areas, refurbishing and extending performing arts facility and improving building exteriors, as outlined on the Department for Education and Child Development's website?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised of the following:

Ms BEDFORD: With interest in and promotion of STEM subjects well and truly underway, what thought is being given to the other side of brains and the importance of the humanities and, perhaps, similar emphasis on LAMP subjects, subjects like language, arts, music and philosophy?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:54): I am very grateful to the member for Florey for that outstanding question because it is important that we do pursue a strong STEM strategy. It's possibly one of the few particular focuses of the former minister that I have given credit to: the STEM strategy, STEM Works facilities, infrastructure projects that are being rolled out and, indeed, development in STEM PD for teachers. So there has been some good work.