BUDGET TIME

Young tradies get tools to graduate fully qualified

YOUNG tradies will stay in school an extra year to graduate fully qualified and ready to work, under a new $50 million program.

The Head Start program will give 1700 students at 100 public schools the chance to finish both VCE and their training at the same time, instead of being forced out of school midway through their apprenticeship.

It forms part of a big education cash splash, p ,p partly re- vealed by the Herald Sun last week after a confidential briefing was mistakenly released.

It is understood almost $1.24 billion will be spent on upgrades and new schools, including a dozen in Melbourne’s growth areas.

Today’s Budget will also include $109 million to overhaul careers education, with advice to be dished out a year earlier, in Year 9, and an online portfolio to help students chroni- cal their work and land a job.

Education Minister James Merlino said: “We’re overhauling career education in schools to make sure our kids get expert advice earlier to help them make the right choices about their future.”

It was also revealed last night that almost $130 million will be spent on court resources, including the hiring of 21 new judges and magistrates, due to an explosion of cases.

And a second stage of the Monash Freeway upgrade, which will cost $720 million to widen the road between Warrigal Rd and EastLink will be funded in the Budget.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula said more people were coming before the justice system and “being held to account” so more resources were needed.

“We’re funding more judges, magistrates and prosecutors to meet this growing demand,” , he said.