Call to set up body to lift capital investment

ALL school infrastructure projects should be approved by new dedicated state planning authorities.

ALL school infrastructure projects should be approved by new dedicated state planning authorities, should cost only "market price", demonstrate efficiency and have a clear educational value.

Despite the Gillard government having spent $16.2 billion on its Building the Education Revolution program, the Gonski review finds there are still "poor quality" school facilities and recommends improving accountability measures for school building projects.

"It is clear that many schools are suffering from a lack of capital investment in their current infrastructure," the Gonski review finds. "The panel is convinced that government schools need additional funding and better planning to bring their infrastructure up to a quality that, at the very least, enables them to effectively compete with some non-government schools."

The review recommends that each state and territory establish a school planning authority that cuts across government and non-government sectors and delivers a co-ordinated approach to new schools and school growth.

The government should also establish a "School Growth Fund" for new schools and school expansions, with state planning authorities "solely responsible" for funding approval.

"The Australian and state and territory governments, should, in consultation with the non-government sector, strengthen public accountability for the public funding of school capital projects," it recommends.

The government - in its only clear-cut response to the Gonski review - has rejected the need for more investment, declaring that the school stimulus program was the "largest ever capital investment in Australian schools" and it would not provide more money.

"In some areas, the Australian government believes that the scope of proposed new funding contributions may be too large," the response reads. "While we are open to continued discussion about the most effective way to provide capital funding for schools, we do not envisage the significant expansion of the commonwealth's capital funding role."

The review says there are no data and standards against which school construction could be assessed and an unclear definition of an effective use of funding.

"There is a lack of data and public accountability in the current schooling system, which makes it difficult for communities to understand their capital funding rights and needs," it states

"The panel sees a strong need for national guidance on this issue and believes stronger arguments should be developed to justify the level of government expenditure."

The report says that any building projects across state, independent and Catholic schools "should be driven by a clear definition of effective use of funding" and says this could involve various criteria.

The report also recommends the current government Capital Grants program be extended to the government system.