Extra money set aside for 27 schools in Melton and Moorabool has not arrived in time for principals to plan next year’s budgets, even though the state government signed up in August for $12.2 billion over six years under David Gonski’s Better Schools Plan.
Melton Specialist School principal Ian Gudgeon is increasingly worried that his school, with 220 special-needs pupils, will have to do without almost $6 million promised for next year.
“We were hoping to use it to provide better resources for student learning, specifically sensory resources for higher-needs students,” Mr Gudgeon said.
He said the funds were scheduled to be used for communication aids and an upgrade to new technologies, providing oral sensory equipment for students unable to chew properly.
School council president Elly Gillard, who has son Cameron at the school, said the funds would have allowed major improvements.
“There’s a lot of technological facilities that need to be replaced and small expansions and upgrades for all the students, instead of just one or two groups,” she said.
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Frank Sal said his organisation’s specific questions had gone unanswered, including how much federal money would be coming through, whether the state was still committed to matching funds and whether the funds would still be distributed according to need.
State Education Minister Martin Dixon’s spokesman said schools had received their 2014 funding, but the government had not ruled out additional money for schools.
“There is more detailed work to be undertaken before any further funding for 2014, 2015 and beyond is announced,” the spokesman said.
– with The Age
