Program a lesson in school safety

Ms Hayden said more than 320 public schools would benefit from the program, with $11.4 million allocated to the major part of the maintenance program that would see professional assessment of classroom ceilings.

Ceilings would be repaired or replaced.

Ms Hayden said 98 schools would receive maintenance work – the majority for classroom ceiling assessments – remediation or replacement in her area.

She said there were 11 east metro public schools that would have cable pits and millboards that contained asbestos completely replaced as part of the proactive safety maintenance program.

Ms Hayden said surfaces on basketball and netball courts and other play areas would be repaired or even replaced to prevent children tripping as they played.

“$3 million has been allocated to the maintenance program for paving and re-sealing of bitumen play areas and a further five east metro public schools would benefit from upgraded playing areas so children could continue to be active in safety.”

Maintenance works are expected to be completed by mid-2016.