Less than 20pc of Building the Education Revolution jobs finished

THE Victorian government has admitted that fewer than one in five school projects has been completed so far in the state's share of the $2.2bn BER program

THE Victorian government has admitted that fewer than one in five school projects has been completed so far in the state's share of the $2.2bn BER program

This is despite being six months away from the federal deadline.

Department of Education officials yesterday told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry on the BER that only 18-19 per cent of the state's 1253 projects had been completed since the stimulus program began in June last year.

State BER co-ordinator Jim Miles told the education and training committee he would investigate claims that an outspoken school principal had been threatened by department officials during negotiations on the project.

The hearing was the first time education officials had been grilled on their handling of the program, and the only public session of the inquiry.

Some school representatives told the committee of concerns with the BER program, from allegations of bullying by department officials to concerns about unsafe rubble being left at schools after builders had finished construction.

Some principals revealed teething problems with the new buildings, such as airconditioning systems not working and being out of pocket for thousands of dollars of removal costs and concerns about maintenance costs.

Berwick Lodge primary school principal Henry Grosseck told the inquiry he had been threatened by officials, including being told by friends in the department that others were out to get him.

"They tell me, Henry, be careful, they are out to get you. You are more than an irritant," he said. "'Henry, they want to get rid of you'."

Mr Grosseck said it was suggested by his friends that the department would cause his resignation after being a principal for 21 years by highlighting his "travel" in his job.

Mr Miles said he had not heard of such threats but would investigate. "It's a very disturbing allegation," he said.

The BER co-ordinator said the department had recently hired former principals to help liaise with schools over problems with implementation of the program, by beefing up the stake-holder relations team.

He admitted that the tight timetable set by the federal government meant they had not done as much consultation with schools as they wished.

But Mr Miles told the committee 96 per cent of projects had been tendered and he was confident they would be completed by the end of next March, despite only 18-19 per cent being finished now.

The Brumby government has come under heavy criticism over the fact it has left principals in the dark about the BER process and refused to divulge project information and costs.

"It's real mushroom territory, it's a real worry," said Berwick Lodge School council president Richard Power.

Beaumaris North Primary School principal Sherril Duffy said she was pleased with the $3 million project at her school but was concerned about the rubble left behind by the builders.

Ms Duffy said there were serious safety issues with the "cement and bricks that were thrown into the garden" of the school.

She believed she would have to pay for it to be taken away and to finish the landscaping.

"That's a huge concern for me," she said.

Ms Duffy said her school was out of pocket about $21,000, but expected to get some back from the builders, and was still paying to fix up errors.