Partnership to bring new schools

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE kids will reap the benefits of a contentious plan by the State Government to build new schools in partnership with private companies.
Last Thursday, Premier John Brumby announced 10 new schools would be built under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements for the first time in Melbourne’s growing suburbs in a bid to keep pace with population growth.
New schools to be built include Cranbourne North East Primary School, Merinda Central Primary School, Lyndhurst Primary School and Cranbourne East P-12 School.
“Victoria already has a strong record in delivering projects through partnerships with the business sector, and it is now time that students also got to benefit,” Mr Brumby said.
However, the Opposition accused the Government of a backflip after former Education Minister Lynne Kosky declared before last year’s state election that PPPs would not be used by the Government to rebuild schools.
Under the new arrangement, the private sector consortium would design and build the schools on Government land, with the schools expected to open in 2010.
The consortium would then manage the facility, including ongoing maintenance and cleaning over a 25-year period.
The company would receive payment for the school once it was built and approved by the Government. It would then be paid annual operational costs.
Mr Brumby said the consortium would have no say in teaching, running the school or the school’s curriculum.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said the announcement would provide better facilities for students in government schools.
“These projects will help us to bring plans for new schools forward and deliver new schools for students in growing parts of Melbourne,” she said.
Interested private sector businesses or consortiums will be asked to submit expressions of interest early next year.