In 2015, the Australian Government will help 183 non-government schools construct new classrooms, build specialist learning spaces and improve student and staff amenities, as part of the Capital Grants Programme (CGP).
More than 80 000 students will benefit from the new facilities, which will be co-funded by the Australian Government and school communities. The combined cost of the school infrastructure projects is $381 million, with the Government providing more than $132.9 million of the total.
The grants will support a range of projects to upgrade existing school buildings and construct new facilities at non-government schools that otherwise may not have access to sufficient resources to fund the development projects.
The projects range from general classrooms, counselling rooms, preparation areas and staff administration areas to specialist facilities for science, music, technology and art.
“These funds will ensure students at non-government schools have the infrastructure necessary to help them learn and succeed,” Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, said.
“While buildings alone do not make a school, modern infrastructure can support the creation of a quality learning environment.”
“The Government is committed to improving the quality of our school education and ensuring students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world,” Senator Ryan said.
“The Government believes in an education system that puts students first. A quality education gives young people the opportunity to achieve personal success and contribute to our nation.”
Please note: The CGP funds infrastructure development at non-government schools. In 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that Australian Government funding to schools be restructured.
As a result, the Australian Government funding framework for government schools provides flexibility for states and territories to allocate Commonwealth recurrent funding to schools in a way that takes into account local circumstances and priorities, this includes new infrastructure.
Total Commonwealth funding to government schools will grow by $2.4 billion over the next four years, a 53.1 per cent increase between 2013-14 and 2017-18.
For further information on the CGP, visit: http://education.gov.au/capital-grants-programme-non-government-schools.