Vic: Survey shows schools in need of upgrades

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2006
Vic: Survey shows schools in need of upgrades

MELBOURNE, April 30 AAP - A high number of Victorian public school principals think
their facilities need a major upgrade, a new survey has shown.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) has called for more funding for schools, saying
they are in desperate need, following the results of their latest annual survey across
public primary and high schools.

The survey showed 75 per cent of principals who responded to the survey thought their
schools needed major upgrades.

Sixty-eight per cent said they lacked sufficient resources to ensure quality programs
were delivered and 83 per cent said they needed equipment upgraded.

The survey also showed 62 per cent of principals had at least one teacher working outside
their area of expertise and 24 per cent said they used school-raised funds to pay some
staff.

Victorian AEU president Mary Bluett said all children deserve an education to meet
their own needs, with lower class sizes, better facilities and greater welfare support.

"It is simply not good enough that we are still awaiting the very basics in our schools,"

Ms Bluett said in a statement.

"We are calling on the government for a 10-year plan for public education in Victoria
rather than drip feeding the public education system each budget."

A Victorian government spokesman said $2 billion had been spent on education and training
since 2000.

"This year the Bracks government will provide the biggest one-off investment in Victorian
school building projects ever with funding to upgrade up to 100 schools," he said.

The survey was sent to Victorian principals in March and received 497 responses, meaning
about one third of all public schools replied, an AEU spokeswoman said.

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KEYWORD: SCHOOLS

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