National School Pride Program FAQs
*The National School Pride Program application process has now closed.*
How many schools have been successful in total under the NSP program?
A full breakdown of funding per school project for each round can be found on our website under National School Pride Program.
What will the funding provided under the NSP program be spent on?
The NSP program has provided funding to eligible Australian schools – primary and secondary, government and non-government.
Funding under this program will be used to undertake construction of small scale infrastructure and/or minor refurbishment projects including;
- refurbishment of buildings;
- construction or upgrades of fixed shade structures, covered outdoor learning areas, sporting grounds and facilities;
- green upgrades (water tanks), insulation;
- specialised infrastructure support for students with disabilities or special needs;
Items which are covered by the Guidelines relating to the National Secondary School Computer Fund or the additional funding associated with the deployment of computers under this fund are not funded under any element of BER (including computers for student use).
How were funding allocations calculated?
Funding allocations were calculated on the basis of enrolment numbers – full-time equivalent as of February 2009 census data. Indicative funding amounts per school are as follows:
| 1 to 50 |
$50,000 |
| 51 to 150 |
$75,000 |
| 151 to 300 |
$125,000 |
| 301 to 400 |
$150,000 |
When will successful schools receive the funding?
Many projects under the NSP program have already begun. NSP funding will be paid by the Commonwealth to the states and territories and then distributed to state and territory Education Departments for government schools and to relevant Block Grant Authorities (BGAs) for non-government schools.
Can schools commence the project before they receive the funding in their account?
Yes. Projects should have already commenced with completion due by 20 December 2009 for Round One projects and 1 February 2010 for Round Two projects.
When do schools have to spend the money?
Under Round One the allocated funding must be spent and projects completed by 20 December 2009.
Round Two funding must be spent and projects completed by 1 February 2010.
What if the schools can’t spend the money in time/cannot spend all the money/don’t need all the money?
It is a requirement of the program that all projects under NSP Round One are completed by
20 December 2009 and Round Two by 1 February 2010. However, where unforeseen delays occur, DEEWR will work with the relevant education authority to ensure completion of construction and/or refurbishment of their approved projects within the set timeframe.
The Commonwealth Government has reporting requirements in place for the state, territory education authorities and BGAs to report on project progress including meeting project deadlines, objectives, tracking expenditure and sustainability aspects of completed projects. Schools are responsible for providing project information to their state, territory education authority or BGA to enable completion of reporting requirements. Expenditure reporting requirements includes actual expenditure and committed contract funds.
What are the recognition requirements for NSP?
Schools are not required to conduct a recognition ceremony as part of NSP. However if a school wants to have a ceremony they can with certificates provided to the school on request. If the school is receiving funding under other element/s of the BER, the NSP program will be recognised as part of the ceremony for the other element/s. The Recognition procedures for BER are in the BER Guidelines and education authorities have agreed in their funding agreements to follow these procedures. Further information about recognition ceremonies will be provided to schools shortly.
All NSP funding has been announced, what happens next?
Those schools funded through NSP should now be working closely with their education authority to ensure the school’s project/s meet the completion deadline for their specific round, and where difficulties may arise, notifying their education authority at an early stage so that remedial action can be taken.