Christopher Pyne pledge on private schools

THE Coalition will set up a funding program to assist in the building of new private schools if it wins the next election.

THE Coalition will set up a funding program to assist in the building of new private schools if it wins the next election.

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne last night told the Christian Schools National Policy Forum he would set up a capital infrastructure investment program for non-government schools once the Coalition got the budget into surplus.

"Many from the non-government sector have raised the issue of capital funding for new schools," he said.

"This is of growing concern, with predictions of as many as 700,000 new students in Australia over the next decade, all seeking an excellent education."

Mr Pyne said the Labor government had abolished the Howard government's $500 per student establishment grants for new schools when it was elected. He said the Coalition would restore this program.

"During the 2010 election, we promised to restore and double these establishment grants - to go some way towards easing the growing pains of a new school," he said. "I can announce that one of a Coalition government's priorities will be to establish a new capital infrastructure investment program to assist towards alleviating this pressure on the non-government school sector."

Mr Pyne also used his speech to warn against the Greens' policies on private school funding.