Primary school `rip-off'
2nd April 2009
Author: STEPHEN DRILL Education reporter
Publication: Herald Sun Sunday, Page 29 (Sun 29 Mar 2009)
THE State Government is refusing to release tens of thousands of dollars in funding to Victorian primary schools which are crying out for more cash for maintenance, welfare officers and support for disabled students.
The state treasury department is warehousing millions of dollars of Federal Government funding meant for primary schools and reaping interest on that money in the meantime.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the additional $100 per primary school student in November.
That adds up to $30 million across Victoria's primary schools each year, which Ms Gillard announced would be available from January 1 this year.
The money has been flowing to the Brumby Government since January but schools are yet to see a cent.
Primary school principals say it took 10 years of hard lobbying to secure the money from the Federal Government and they are angry it is now earning interest in Spring St coffers.
Ms Gillard wrote to the State Government on March 20, urging the money be spent on primary schools.
And the Victorian Principals Association wrote to Treasurer John Lenders and Education Minister Bronwyn Pike this month, asking where the top-up cash had gone.
President Gabrielle Leigh said schools had budgeted for the extra money when making plans for staff this year.
``It was anticipated it would be in the schools' budgets by now,'' she said.
Matt Nurse, spokesman for Mr Lenders, confirmed the cash had not been forwarded to schools and said the Government would make an announcement on the cash in the State Budget in May.
``As normal we will allocate this money in the next Budget,'' he said.
Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon said Mr Lenders and Ms Pike were ripping off Victorian students.
``If education really was the Government's No.1 priority, like it claims, they wouldn't be hanging on to that money,'' he said.
``They are reaping the interest on that money while schools cry out for maintenance, welfare officers and extra support for disabled students.''
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