VIC: State govt set to woo voters with education boost

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-1999
VIC: State govt set to woo voters with education boost

MELBOURNE, April 29 AAP - The state government appears set to woo voters with a major boost
to education funding in next week's state budget as the opposition pledges to provide more
support to Victoria's Catholic schools.

The government is planning to pledge $99 million for new or updated schools, it was
reported on Channel Nine.

The boost would include 12 new schools and major upgrades for 67 others, with replacements
for portable classrooms a top priority.

The funding is expected to include a $3.4 million upgrade of Williamstown North Primary
School, a $3.8 million rebuild of Sydenham Secondary College, and $2.2 million for
refurbishment of Merrilands College in Reservoir, the report said.

New schools are expected to be built at Bass Valley and Newhaven in Gippsland, and Rye on
the Mornington Peninsular.

Treasurer Alan Stockdale is also expected to announce the opening of a new Koori open door
school and to earmark $100 million of education funding for information technology.

A spokesman for Mr Stockdale told AAP the details may or may not have been leaked and a
spokesman for state Education Minister Phil Gude was not immediately available for comment.

Labor Leader Steve Bracks said the Catholic system in Victoria, which accounts for 180,000
school students, now received the lowest level of funding compared to other states.

"The atrocious level of funding had resulted in larger class sizes, little access to new
technology and low spending on students with disabilities," Mr Bracks said in a statement.

Catholic schools spend an average of $2,400 on special needs compared to an average of
$12,000 for each student in state schools, he said.

"Labor will ensure that Catholic schools no longer receive the lowest level of assistance
compared to the other states.

"Not content with having the worst funded government school system in Australia, Mr Gude
and (Premier Jeff) Kennett now preside over the worst-funded Catholic system in Australia."

The Victorian Independent Education Union said Catholic schools were publicly campaigning
against cuts to education in Victoria in the lead-up to the budget.

AAP st/jnb

KEYWORD: EDUCATION

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