SLC Element

Under the Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools (SLC) element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program 537 science laboratories and language learning centres are being built or refurbished.

The funding has provided secondary schools with access to modern facilities with leading edge technologies in their own learning spaces.

The $821.8 million SLC element is funding:

• 280 science centres
  
• 179 language centres and
  
• 78 dual facilities.

Of these, 376 are new construction projects and 161 are refurbishment projects.

School funding of up to:

• $572 million (71 per cent) will go to government schools
  
• $148 million (18 per cent) to Catholic schools and
  
• $90 million (11 per cent) to Independent schools.

Process for selecting successful schools

The announcement of successful schools under the SLC element followed a competitive process. Expressions of interest were sought from secondary schools, assessed and shortlisted by state and territory education authorities and Block Grant Authorities. The results of this assessment were submitted to the Department for review. They were then provided to the National Assessment Panel (NAP) for assessment. The recommendations of the NAP were forwarded to the Acting Minister for Education, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, for final approval.

The applications were assessed by the NAP against the following criteria, in order of priority:

• demonstrated level of disadvantage
  
• identified and demonstrated need for the specified building
  
• capacity to build the facility within the specified timeframes
  
• effective and efficient use of Commonwealth funding and
  
• extent to which the project incorporates sustainable building principles.
  

Definitions of a science or language centre funded under the SLC element

A science centre is any facility designed and equipped to provide the teaching and learning of natural, applied or behavioural science. This allows for (but is not limited to) the teaching of subjects such as chemistry, engineering, biology, electronics, environmental technology, physics, nanotechnology, anthropology and agricultural science.

For the purposes of the SLC element, a language centre is a facility with dedicated space suitable for the teaching and learning of languages and cultures. It would not include a facility designed to teach English, except for the teaching of English to students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Dual facilities - a science laboratory and a language centre

Schools could apply for an integrated facility encompassing a science and language centre, provided it was one project.

Completion date for SLC projects

It is a requirement of the SLC element that all projects were completed by 30 June 2010. Where delays occurred, DEEWR is working with the relevant Education Authority to ensure completion of construction and/or refurbishment of their approved projects within the approved timeframes.