Students at schools across Victoria will soon be better places to teach and learn - with the Victorian Government funding hundreds of essential school maintenance projects around the state.
Under the Planned Maintenance Program (PMP), 207 Victorian schools will share in more than $17 million in Term 3 funding - allowing them to undertake essential work to grounds and classrooms like fixing roofs and windows, painting, resurfacing floors and replacing windows, as well as external landscaping works like pathways and lighting.
Essential maintenance works are decided by using up-to-date information on the condition of schools to create a faster and more targeted allocation of investment.
More than $2.8 million of this vital funding will go towards maintenance of Shelter-in-Place buildings at 22 schools, which serve as a temporary shelter for staff and students during a bushfire until emergency services arrive, or as a shelter of last resort.
This investment comes on top of more than $22 million already provided through Term 1 and Term 2 PMP allocations to make sure existing buildings at Victoria's state schools are safe, modern and properly maintained.
In the past seven years, the Government has invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades, creating around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries.
The Government's work to 100 new schools by 2026 is well ahead of schedule - with 62 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
"Investing in maintenance works means schools can tend to those essential projects that will ensure our students and teachers have access to safe and modern learning environments."
"Our record investment in school infrastructure is part of our work to keep delivering world-class facilities and a world-class education to every Victorian student and their families."
