In 2009, the Commonwealth Government committed funding of $16.2b over three years to provide new facilities and refurbishments in Australian schools to meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers through the Building the Education Revolution (BER) Program.
The AISNSW Block Grant Authority (BGA) works in partnership with the Commonwealth to deliver the BER to independent schools in NSW.
Funded Programs
The three elements of the BER are:
- Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) – $14.1 billion for all Australian primary schools, K-12 schools (primary school component) and special schools to build new iconic facilities such as libraries, multipurpose halls or classrooms, or to upgrade existing facilities.
- Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools (SLC)– $821.8 million for the construction of new science laboratories or language learning centres.
- National School Pride (NSP) program – $1.288 billion for all schools in Australia for funding for minor capital works and maintenance projects.
Monthly Reporting
DEEWR requires monthly reporting from all schools on the progress of BER projects.
To assist schools to comply with this requirement, the BGA provides an on-line reporting facility for schools to enter their updated project information at:
http://www2.aisnsw.edu.au/_forms/.
The website will open from the 1st of each month. Reporting must be completed by the 9th of the month.
Access to monthly reports submitted prior to 30 November 2010 may be obtained at: http://grants.aisnsw.edu.au/rfn/
Recognition Requirements
Schools receiving funding under the P21 or SLC elements of the BER program are required to hold recognition ceremonies as part of their conditions of funding.
All recognition ceremonies must be held within three months of the completion of the project, with two months prior notice given to DEEWR. All invitations should be forwarded to the BERrecognition@deewr.gov.au mailbox with three proposed dates and times provided.
Further information including a Recognition Kit can be found at:
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/BuildingTheEducationRevolution/Pages/RecognitionCeremonies.aspx