The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest an additional $100 million in school maintenance this year, taking its total investment to an unprecedented $847 million over four years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the extra funding today with Minister for Education Rob Stokes, ensuring that schools across NSW are maintained to the best standards.
The additional money is being allocated to schools with the highest maintenance needs and $260 million of the funding will be invested this financial year.
"This investment will ensure that every student, in every school, has an equal opportunity to achieve excellence," Ms Berejiklian said.
"When the NSW Liberals & Nationals came to Government we inherited a large maintenance liability from Labor. Once again we are fixing the mess that Labor left for NSW.
"Boosting the school maintenance fund by another $100 million is only possible due to the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government."
Mr Stokes said that managing school maintenance is an ongoing challenge that the NSW Government is confronting head on.
"Just like any other buildings, schools need constant maintenance. We’re getting on with the job of ensuring our schools remain in tip-top condition because that is what our teachers and students deserve," Mr Stokes said.
Ms Berejiklian and Mr Stokes made the announcement today on the NSW Central Coast.
Brian Perrem, Liberal Candidate for The Entrance added: "The additional funding announced today is a huge boost for the Central Coast. It will ensure that students and teachers can work in the best possible conditions. Only the NSW Liberals & Nationals can deliver this sort of major investment."
Schools will take advantage of the long school summer break, with jobs such roof works to be completed at Bradbury Public School near Campbelltown.
Other examples of schools receiving roof repairs include Mayfield East and Woodland Road Public Schools, along with Singleton and Newcastle High Schools.
There will also be painting carried out at Glebe Public School, Binya Public School in Cootamundra and Seaforth Public School on the Northern Beaches.
Other jobs to be completed, among many others, include a new retaining wall at Austinmer Public School in Keira and new carpeting and flooring at Lindfield, Beecroft and Malabar Public Schools.
"Our public schools are some of the most important tools in building a bright future for NSW. We want communities to have pride in their schools, just like we have pride in their hard-working students and teachers," Mr Stokes said.
In addition to prioritising maintenance in NSW schools, the Government has also announced the first 900 schools that will receive air conditioning under its record $500 million Cooler Classrooms program.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is also undertaking a record $6 billion school building program over the next four years, which will deliver more than 170 new and upgraded schools to support communities throughout NSW. This is the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any State government in Australian history.
An additional 900 full-time teachers will also be hired this financial year, building on the 5340 teachers that the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has added to the public school system since 2011.
