PIKE MUST HAND OVER BER PROJECTS TO GOVT SCHOOL PRINCIPALS & SCHOOL COUNCILS
28th July 2010
The Education Minister must hand over control of all unfinished Building Education Revolution (BER) projects to school communities in the wake of the release of damning submissions, Shadow Minister for Education Martin Dixon said.
Yesterday the Inquiry into the Administration of the Federal Government's Building Education Revolution Program in Victoria released submissions from government school principals and school councils on BER projects, many condemning the Brumby Government for a failure to involve the principals and school communities, lack of consultation and delayed projects.
"These submissions confirm the Brumby Government has grossly mismanaged BER projects and arrogantly refused to listen to principals," Mr Dixon said.
20 of the 21 public schools referred to in the submissions complain of mismanagement, waste, delays and arrogance from the Education Department which has refused to hand over management of the projects to school principals.
In stark contrast, all 15 of 15 Catholic and independent schools referred to in the submissions report that BER projects have been positive with no interference by the Department of Education.
"John Brumby made a terrible decision by refusing to hand over control of BER projects to public school principals which has forced them to suffer under the incompetence of the Department," Mr Dixon said.
"Schools have complained about a lack of consultation, moving goal posts, poor communication, project delays, poor value for money and unacceptable disruption to their programs and facilities, all of which have impacted on the education of Victorian children.
"If the Brumby Government had not been so secretive and arrogant it could have let government school principals build world class facilities just like the Catholic and independent school systems have done.
"These submissions are testament to the arrogance and incompetence of John Brumby's education bureaucracy and they demonstrate the depth of dissatisfaction among principals, parents and students in the public school system.
"Simply by handing over control of these projects to school principals and communities, like Catholic and Independent schools, John Brumby can immediately reverse the waste, delays and incompetence of his Department," Mr Dixon said.
Notice Board
Parliament of Victoria
Live Broadcast
Subscribe
Want to keep up to date with the latest from Martin? Subscribe to our newsletter...
Enrol to Vote
Your vote will help shape Victoria's future, click here to enrol.
Survey
Take the time to complete our survey to let Martin know the issues which are of concern to you.
Contact Martin
Martin Dixon MP
State Member for Nepean
Shop 1, McCrae Plaza
Cnr Lonsdale Street and Pt Nepean Road
McCRAE VIC 3938
Phone: (61) 3 5986 6661
Fax: (61) 3 5981 1360
Email: martin.dixon@parliament.vic.gov.au