Delivering Great Local Schools Across Victoria

Photo: Best Gapp

Victoria is growing faster than any other state or territory and our schools need to accommodate more than 90,000 extra students by 2022.

The Andrews Labor Government has already invested more than $3.8 billion to build 70 new government schools and upgrade 1,300 schools, but we know all of our schools – government, Catholic and independent – need more support to meet this demand.

That’s why a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will establish a $400 million fund in partnership with the non-government school sector to upgrade and build new non-government schools across Victoria. The fund will also support the removal of dangerous asbestos and cladding in non-government schools.

We’ll also help them build more schools for our growing suburbs sooner, by altering planning laws and creating a dedicated planning unit within the department to help fast-track non-government school approvals for new schools and upgrades.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education James Merlino joined students, teachers and parents at Corpus Christi Primary School in Glenroy to make the announcement, which will see the school receive $1 million towards an upgrade of learning areas and redevelop the play area and court yard.

More than one third of Victorian students attend a Catholic or independent school and only Labor will make sure they have the modern facilities they need to achieve their best.

The Liberals slashed $1 billion out of our education system and didn’t spend a single cent on Catholic or independent schools during their four years in Government, leaving thousands of Victorian students in old and crowded classrooms.

The Andrews Labor Government has already delivered $120 million to upgrade and build new Catholic and independent schools across Victoria, giving parents more choice about their children’s education and making sure all Victorian kids have access to a great local school.

We also provided certainty for Catholic and independent schools by amending the "Education and Training Reform Act" – guaranteeing per-student funding to non-government schools is at least 25 per cent of per-student funding to government schools.