Magazine - You Pay $150m for Rich Schools

By Editor in Schools on 22nd Mar 2010 6:00

Taxpayers have helped fund tennis courts, swimming pools, gyms, playgrounds, green schemes and even an atrium refurbishment at some of the state's richest private schools.

Fifty top independent and religious schools pocketed more than $150 million in Federal Government economic stimulus payments, a survey by the Herald Sun has found. Some private schools got more than $5 million each, while some government schools didn't get a cent.

Toorak's St Catherine's got $2 million towards a $9 million sports hall that will boast two indoor pools with glass walls and ceiling, a gym and seating for 250. The project will also include synthetic tennis, netball, basketball, and hockey facilities, an underground carpark, classroom, staff offices and landscaping, and the school also got $200,000 to refurbish its senior school atrium.

Rye Primary was left empty-handed after being convinced to give up its share for "more needy schools".

Melbourne University professor Richard Teese said giving cash to private schools ahead of needy state schools was "just plain wrong" "I don't think any educator accepts the logic of giving to wealthy private schools resources or equipment or buildings which are urgently needed in poorer public schools," he said.

The Cash spent went to private schools for music rooms, performing arts buildings, pool upgrades and theatre upgrades. They also got green grants for artificial turf, water tanks, solar cells, water harvesting systems, improving thermal performance of buildings and shade structures.k for lack of funds," she said.

Federal Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne said the scheme was a lost opportunity, with millions of dollars wasted.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it helped save Australia from recession. "We decided to use a national infrastructure stimulus strategy, but not just that, to provide state-of-the-art (facilities) for kids right across Australia."

 

Source & More: www.heraldsun.com.au

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