Community
23 January, 2026
Claims regional schools have been left behind
MORE than 20 schools across the South West Coast are now officially rated in “below average” or “poor” condition according to local MP Roma Britnell.
In a statement issued late last month, Ms Britnell said the number of schools in her electorate that were “well below the Victorian average” exposed a widening gap between metropolitan and regional education facilities.
“Explosive newly data, released only after a hard-fought Liberal push for transparency, confirm that regional schools are being left behind,” she said.
“Around 76 per cent of the lowest ranked schools are located outside of metropolitan Melbourne.
“But these findings are not a surprise; we have been fighting for this data for two years.”
She believes the Allan Labor Government resisted its release because they knew it would expose years of under-investment and a pattern of decision-making that prioritised Melbourne while regional communities wait, lobby and “hope for basic standards to be met.”
“The government makes big announcements but the results don’t meet the fanfare,” Ms Britnell said.
“A perfect example of this is the Warrnambool East Primary School supposed upgrade. Despite a $2.61 million spend announced in 2017/18, the school remains classified today as below average.
“Can you imagine what the condition of the school was before the upgrade? Even after the works were completed, classrooms still had windows that couldn’t be opened, upgrades that look good on paper but fail to deliver where it matters.”
She believes that across 21 of the last 25 years, essential services such as education, health and roads have been ignored, and the neglect only grows more visible the further you travel from Melbourne.
“We’re told the investment is coming, but the results speak for themselves,” Ms Britnell said.
“Our kids are learning in conditions that would never be accepted in Melbourne.
“Years of neglect now loom over what Labor has always touted as one of Victoria’s proudest identities – the Education State.
“These figures lay bare what our communities confront every day. I continually meet with principals and parents who tell me about the rundown buildings, mounting maintenance failures, and learning environments that fall far short of what our students deserve.”
