EDUCATION: Schools will stay unimpressed

Schools grappling with at-risk, disadvantaged and disruptive children will benefit from a series of initiatives. But the basic school funding framework remains unchanged, and a 1.6 per cent increase in operating grants will not impress schools.

The tertiary sector has been all but ignored. The major initiative is $25 million to hook all schools up to the Internet by next year.

A further $21.7 million will pay for students who have been expelled or suspended to attend alternative learning centres.

Other initiatives include:

* $4.5 million to put social workers in another 175 primary schools.

* An extra $18.9 million over three years for early childhood education.

* $1.3 million for more Pacific Island teachers.

* $20.4 million for School Support.

* $5.9 million boost for Special Education 2000.

* $1.3 million to prevent bullying in schools.

A $100 million boost to the school property programme will add 200 primary and 80 secondary classrooms to meet growth, while five new schools are due to open in 2004. - Theresa Garner