School property changes
The Government has announced key changes to school property:
- Establish a new entity separate from the Ministry of Education, to assume ownership and asset management responsibility for the school property portfolio.
- Clarify roles and responsibilities for the funding, planning and delivery of school property.
- Review and simplify the current funding model for state schools.
- Implement clear processes for regular reporting and priority-setting to promote accountability, transparency, clarity of expectations, and value for money.
- Establish a Transition Board and Transition Unit to oversee and coordinate the establishment of the new school property entity.
- Undertake a range of immediate actions during the transition period to simplify the operating model and ensure value for money.
The first one is to me the most critical. A standalone entity with commercial governance and expertise to manage $30 billion of school property is the way to go.
In Q1 2024, over 60% of new classrooms were initiated as offsite manufacturing, up from under 20% in Q4 2023.
This indicates more affordable standard classrooms rather than each school getting bespoke designs.
UPDATE: The Government hasn’t decided to establish a new entity. It is a recommendation from the reviewers.