EDUCATION REVOLUTION TRANSFORMING NSW SCHOOLS
More than 2,000 NSW public schools have received new classrooms, libraries, halls,
outdoor learning areas, science labs and fresh paint thanks to the $3.5 billion Building
the Education Revolution (BER) stimulus package launched a year ago.
Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth and Member for Campbelltown
Graham West today visited Minto Public School, which sports a brand new $2 million
hall and covered outdoor learning area.
The project is one of 4,700 Federally-funded initiatives to improve education
infrastructure across the State.
“Almost half of all our education stimulus projects have been completed in record
time,” Ms Firth said.
“More than 3,670 construction projects are completed or underway as we continue to
make great strides in delivering this multi-billion dollar investment in our schools.
“Construction work was ramped up over the holidays to ensure students across the
state returning to school could enjoy better classrooms and playgrounds.”
The program is supporting an estimated 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs per annum.
BER works in NSW include:
$2.98 billion Primary Schools for the 21st Century - provides funding to build or
upgrade large-scale infrastructure such as libraries, halls and classrooms and other
buildings.
• A total of 2,395 projects
• 1,387 (56%) construction starts
$287 million National School Pride – provides funding of up to $200,000 for every
eligible primary, secondary and central school in NSW to refurbish and renew
existing infrastructure and undertake minor building works.
• 2,179 (100%) projects physically started
• 2,100 (96%) projects completed - all works to be completed by March 2010.
$151 million Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary
Schools - $151 million will deliver newly constructed and refurbished science
learning centres and language learning centres to eligible secondary schools across
NSW.
• A total of 118 science and language laboratories have been chosen
• 106 projects are underway
Mr West said Minto Public School was the first government school to start
construction under the P21 part of the program.
“It is great to be back here today to see Minto students enjoying their new state-ofthe-
art hall, which will benefit the local school community for years to come,” Mr West
said.
Ms Firth said the NSW Government was working with the Commonwealth to provide
students and teachers with the best facilities possible.
“NSW public schools will receive $2.5 billion for upgrades and $400 million for
maintenance this year through Commonwealth and State funding,” Ms Firth said.
“Through its Building Better Schools program the NSW Government is spending
more than $2 billion over four years to deliver the largest state-funded public
education and training capital works program ever undertaken in NSW.”
Further information on BER projects in NSW is located at www.ber.nsw.gov.au.
Briefing Notes
Over the past 12 months BER has delivered:
• Close to $3.5 billion in Commonwealth funding (7 times the size of DET’s
annual business as usual capital program)
• Commenced close to 4,700 projects – to be delivered over two years
• Over 3,670 (78%) projects with construction starts on site
• 2150 (46%) projects completed
• Close to 11,400 estimated average daily number of on-site workers over the
BER program and up to 180 jobs in the BER Program Office
• Expended over $663 million (19% of project funding) on projects to end of
December 2009