Building Education Revolution
The Building the Education Revolution (BER) is an initiative that is part of the Federal Government’s economic stimulus package. Each of Australia’s 9 540 schools will be able to access part of this stimulus package, which aims to fund schools in building and upgrading facilities and will also be available for broader community use.
The BER initiative consists of three key elements:
Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21)
The focus of the Primary Schools for the 21st Century is the building of new infrastructure for primary schools, the primary component of K-12 schools and special schools.
Buildings that will be funded include libraries, multipurpose halls or classrooms. This initiative will also provide local communities with out of school hours facilities, support recreational and adult learning groups and act as a community hub for meetings and organisations throughout the country.
Where a school or school community has determined that a school has no need for construction of any of the highest priority projects as listed in the Commonwealth Guidelines, and has identified a need for an early learning centre, it may apply for funding of such a centre.
Funding allocations to each state, territory and BGA are calculated on the basis of enrolment numbers – full-time equivalents (FTE) as of February 2009 census data.
The first round of major infrastructure projects under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) program must be completed by 20 Dec 2010.
National School Pride Program (NSP)
National School Pride program will provide funding (of up to $200 000, subject to the size) to every Primary and Secondary, (government and non-government) School to undertake construction of small scale infrastructure and minor refurbishment projects.
Projects that can be approved for funding under this element of BER include:
- Refurbishment of buildings;
- Construction or upgrades of fixed shade structures, covered outdoor learning areas, sporting grounds and facilities;Green upgrades (water tanks), insulation;
- Specialised infrastructure support for students with disabilities or special needs;
- Installation or purchase of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and equipment which are not covered by any part of the Digital Education Revolution funding.
The National Schools Pride (NSP) program to commence by April-May 2009.
Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools (SLC)
Up to 500 schools will be funded to construct new science laboratories or language learning centres. Funding will be allocated on the basis of demonstrated need and provision of evidence that schools are ready and capable to have construction of the facilities completed within the 2009/10 financial year. Proposals will be subject to a competitive application process.
The building of new centres under the Science and Languages (SLC) program will be fast-tracked to be completed in 2010.
For more information contact:
www.buildingtheeducationrevolution.gov.au.
