Victorian Schools Plan
About the Victorian Schools Plan
The Victorian Schools Plan is one of many Victorian Government initiatives ensuring Victorian schools provide children with what they need to get a great start in life. It is the largest investment in the history of state education.
The Victorian Government recognises the powerful impact that school design has on both student outcomes and innovative teaching. Through the Victorian Schools Plan, children will benefit from high quality educational facilities and infrastructure.
$1.9 billion is being invested to rebuild, renovate or extend 500 schools by 2011. Every Victorian government school will be rebuilt, renovated or extended by 2016-17. $555 million was announced in the May 2007 budget and is being spent on 131 schools over the next year.
The Victorian Schools Plan delivers far-reaching community benefits by providing new facilities for the use of schools and their neighbouring communities. The new buildings will be designed and constructed so they can be assets for the whole community. This will mean that, outside school hours, the wider community will benefit by being able to use school sporting facilities, meeting rooms, halls, stadiums, libraries and other buildings. Also classrooms and computers could be used for adult education and other courses.
The Victorian Schools Plan also includes two exciting Information Technology projects:
- The introduction of an Ultranet at a cost of $60.5 million which will connect teachers, students and parents via an online system allowing access to virtual classrooms and schooling information; and
- Expenditure of $28 million for sourcing more than 25,000 new or replacement computers for student use. This will mean more readily available information for children across the state.
Timeline
Delivery of the Victorian Schools Plan has already begun with all projects to be completed by 2016-17.
In the 2007-08 financial year the Government’s commitment to the Victorian Schools Plan includes:
- Building:
- seven new schools serving Melbourne’s growing suburbs: Berwick South Primary School; Caroline Springs North; Craigieburn North; Laurimar Primary School ; Pakenham Lakeside Primary School; Point Cook Secondary College; Wyndham Vale - $50 million; and
- planning for two select entry schools in North Melbourne and the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
- Rebuilding:
- 24 schools in Altona, Bendigo, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Laverton, Wangaratta, Western Heights in Geelong and Colac - $93 million
- four schools at Albert Park Secondary College, Grevillea Park Primary School (Ballarat), Monash Special Developmental School and Skene Street Special School (Stawell) - $27 million
- six rural schools with permanent facilities - $14 million
- a sports school in Maribyrnong - $10 million.
- Renovating and extending:
- 89 schools across Victoria including upgrading science rooms and technology wings - $258 million.
- Buying land:
- to provide schools in growth areas - $35 million.
Related Information
School Design Awards (www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/schooldesign/default.htm)