Nearly 500 Catholic schools across Victoria will benefit from a Brumby Government injection of $38.9 million in capital grants to rebuild and upgrade needy Catholic schools, vastly improving learning opportunities for the state’s 186,000 Catholic school students.
The new grant was announced this week, with Education Minister Bronwyn Pike saying the huge boost to the Catholic sector would not only improve physical facilities at the schools, but would help create construction jobs and release other funds within Catholic school budgets to meet additional operational costs.
“Education is this Government’s number one priority because we believe all students should have every opportunity to have the best start in life through a great education, and a world - class education system needs modern facilities to reflect modern teaching,” Ms Pike said.
“This major capital grants program will ease the pressure on school budgets and free up local school resources that would otherwise be spent on maintenance and capital programs to help target better student learning programs. “This major capital grants program will ease the pressure on school budgets and free up local school resources."
“The Brumby Government recognises the importance that Catholic schools play in Victoria's education system and this is real money for a real result that will help Catholic school children continue to enjoy the best possible start in life through a quality education that gives them the right opportunities.”
“That recognition is evident through the 72 per cent increase in Catholic school funding we’ve provided since 1999, and the historic four-year, $1 billion funding agreement our Government struck with the Catholic sector in 2006.
“Our record is one of increased investment in schools throughout the state. We’ve invested more than $7 billion into education statewide since 1999 and employed an extra 8000 teachers and support staff and we’ll continue to invest so that our schools can succeed,” Ms Pike said.
The funding boost has also been welcomed by the Catholic Education Office, with the Director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Stephen Elder, saying the funding showed the Victorian Labor Government recognised the important role Catholic schools play.
“We are most grateful to the State Government for this urgent assistance with the escalating cost of education and the economic pressure on families who choose Catholic education for their children,” Mr Elder said.
“The additional capital funds will be most timely for Catholic schools as they will ease the pressure on school budgets and free up local school resources that would otherwise be spent on maintenance and capital programs to help target better student learning programs.
“The Catholic education sector has a good working relationship with the Brumby Government and this has been acknowledged by the constructive discussions being undertaken around the next funding agreement due to start in 2010.”