Chris Mole MP has today (November 12^th 2008) welcomed a funding boost announced by the Government this week to start rebuilding local primary schools.

Suffolk will receive £12,722,376 to kick start the Labour Government’s plan to rebuild or refurbish half of all primary schools over the next fifteen years.

The funding plans - worth £3.55 billion across England – were confirmed this week by the Schools Secretary Ed Balls.

Chris said:

"Children deserve the best facilities that we can build and teachers deserve better classrooms to work in. So this funding is a really welcome boost for education in our area.

"Ten years ago classrooms were in a terrible state. That's been transformed by the biggest ever investment in new buildings, computers and other facilities. But there is still more to do to get the very best facilities in all our schools and replace old buildings that are no longer fit for the job.

“At this challenging time for our economy, it’s vital that we sustain our investment in public services. This huge capital investment will not only improve the education of our children, but help to support jobs in the construction industry and local businesses, which will be crucial to fitting out the new and refurbished schools.

“The Tories have already pledged to cut £4.5 billion from our secondary school rebuilding programme. I just hope they don’t say they want to cut this important investment in our primary schools too.”