Vic: Schools receive federally-funded upgrade

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2009
Vic: Schools receive federally-funded upgrade

MELBOURNE, April 5 AAP - More than 1,400 Victorian schools will receive a federally
funded upgrade.

The 1,441 schools will share in $195 million from the commonwealth for minor infrastructure
and refurbishment projects such as upgrading canteen and playing areas.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard announced the funding on Sunday as part of
the $828.7 million provided for 5,965 schools nationally.

The injection of funds, delivered under the government's $1.3 billion National School
Pride Program, would create jobs and benefit local communities, she said.

"These projects will create demand for tradespeople in thousands of communities across
Australia," Ms Gillard said.

Victorian Education Minister Bronwyn Pike welcomed the announcement.

Ms Pike said the schools would receive between $50,000 and $200,000 to improve their
schools under the first round of funding.

"This is a great opportunity for hundreds of our schools to enrich their school environments
through projects, from installing water tanks for their school gardens or for flushing
toilets to laying synthetic turf in their play areas," she said.

"Other schools are choosing to build covered outdoor learning areas to bring the classroom
outside or installing shade cloth over eating areas - there are many exciting projects
schools can start organising."

Ms Pike said the upgrades would also generate jobs immediately as projects had to be
completed by December.

AAP mi/sn

KEYWORD: SCHOOLS VIC

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