SCHOOLS in Melton and Moorabool need an urgent cash fix to keep pace with massive population growth, says the state opposition as it increases pressure on Premier Denis Napthine to sign up for the Gonski education reforms.
Following the May state budget’s failure to bankroll permanent buildings at Melton Specialist School, a new school at Arnolds Creek and a rebuild of Bacchus Marsh Secondary College, Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said the Commonwealth’s national plan for school improvement could free up much-needed capital funding.
Prime Minister and Lalor MP Julia Gillard said the state’s schools stood to lose $1.9 million each if Dr Napthine did not commit to the new scheme
But Dr Napthine said the state had not been properly consulted and was in no rush to “sign up to a slogan” by the June 30 deadline.
Mr Nardella said Victorian schools would net more than $13 billion in federal cash over the next four years under the Gonski reforms.
“Although it’s recurrent money it’s about looking at the total package because if that money starts to come in it will free up the capital we need to work on our schools,” he said.
“My message to the Premier is to stop playing politics with my kids and my families in the outer west and sign up ASAP. This is about doing the right thing.”
Ms Gillard said the reforms were particularly important for growth areas like Melton, where there was social disadvantage and population growth was outstripping school capacities.
“We have a system at the moment that’s broken, that doesn’t follow need,” she said.
“A big thing about our school funding model is that it’s funding student populations so, as the school grows, your funding automatically grows.”
Under the federal government’s plan, an extra $14.5 billion would be injected into Australian schools over the next six years, with the states to pay one third of the cost. NSW is the only state to have signed up to the scheme.
Dr Napthine said that while negotiations would continue, he held genuine concerns about “robbing Peter to pay Paul” by taking $2.8 billion out of universities to free up funds for school reforms.
May’s state budget earmarked $11.5 million for a new school on Weeks Avenue in Melton West.
Construction will start next year, with enrolments expected to be taken in 2015.
