Catholic Schools chalk up $40m

St John’s Primary School Year 6 students at Mullumbimby (from left) Jayden Douglas, 12, Lily Wood, 11, and Hannah Bromwich, 11, will soon have a covered outdoor learning area to go with their playground.

DAVID NIELSEN

STUDENTS at St John's Primary School in Mullumbimby will soon have a brand new covered outdoor learning area.

The school will also refurbish its classrooms with a $465,000 grant from the Federal Government.

Twenty parish schools across the Lismore Catholic diocese will receive a total of about $40 million in the next round of funding.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the funding yesterday as part of the Building the Education Revolution initiative.

Lismore diocese parish priest, Father Peter Karam, said it was 'excellent news' for the community.

“It is much appreciated,” he said.

“The funding will make a huge difference for these schools and allow them to expand their educational facilities, which they might not have been able to do otherwise.

“The Government has shown great foresight in making sure education caters for the future of this community.”

Other schools that are set to benefit from the money include:

• St Joseph's Primary School at Alstonville - $1.5m for a library and staff amenities;

• St Francis Xavier Primary School at Ballina - $2.2m for a multi-purpose hall;

• St Mary's Primary School at Casino - $3m for a library and new classrooms;

• St Joseph's Primary School at Coraki - $1m for new classrooms and a library;

• Our Lady of Lourdes Infants School at East Lismore - $500,000 for a library;

• St Brigid's Primary School at Kyogle - $1.6m for a library and refurbishment of classrooms;

• Mount St Patrick Primary School at Murwillumbah - $2m for classrooms and refurbishment of the library;

• Holy Family Catholic Primary School at Skennars Head - $2.63m to construct a multi-purpose hall; and

• St Francis Xavier Primary School, Woolgoolga: $1.59m to construct a multi-purpose hall.

Catholic Schools director, Dr Anne Wenham, said the new projects would enhance learning environments.