Maintenance funding for public schools

THREE Bendigo primary schools and two secondary colleges have received funding in the latest round of the State Government’s Planned Maintenance Program.

Bendigo South East Secondary College in Flora Hill was the major financial beneficiary, receiving $555,711.20, while Weeroona College in White Hills received $153,613.24.

Kennington Primary School received the substantial amount of $428,094.86, Kangaroo Flat Primary School $182,062.81 and Epsom Primary School $14,407.35.

The local schools are part of a statewide set of 158 that will share in over $47.9 million of funding to undertake 162 high-priority maintenance projects between them.

This will include work in classrooms and other school buildings such as fixing roofs and replacing windows, maintaining ramps, painting and resurfacing floors, as well as some external works like improving pathways.

Recipients are determined by a rolling facilities evaluation process, which provides up-to-date information on the condition of schools to create a faster and more targeted allocation of funding.

The State Government has allocated $16.9 billion over the past 10 years to deliver more than 2200 school upgrades as well as build new ones.

“This latest maintenance blitz will keep every Victorian school up-to-date, so that every child can access a world-class education in a world-class school,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said.

“We are constantly reviewing our schools’ buildings and facilities to make sure every single classroom is safe, engaging, and will complement the top-class education Victorian students deserve.”