Release of report detailing standards/cost of school-cleaning services

22/2/97

A report detailing the standards and cost of cleaning services in Western Australian Government schools has been released for comment.

In making the report public today, Education Minister Colin Barnett signalled his intention for contract cleaning to continue in schools and invited comment on how this should happen.

Mr Barnett said the 1996 Review of Cleaning in WA Government Schools report indicated that there had been problems during the initial trial of contract cleaning in schools, but that the Education Department together with cleaners had promptly addressed them.

He said that contract cleaning would continue but at a slower pace than had occurred during the trial, when 160 schools took on contractors over four months. Public comment was now being sought to help address problems that surfaced last year.

Contract cleaning would gradually be extended to other schools in the metropolitan area and large country centres where contractors existed. In smaller country centres, where a community group or business was willing to take on the contract, this would also be considered.

"There is no doubt that there were some teething problems during last year's trial of contract cleaning at 160 metropolitan schools," Mr Barnett said.

"Those problems were addressed by the Education Department and in one particular case, four contracts were terminated because standards were not met."

Mr Barnett said that, on average, contract cleaning represented about 70 per cent of day labour costs. All up, contract cleaning in the 160 schools last year saved approximately $4.6 million, money that would be injected into other areas of education.

"While the money saved is enough to build a new state-of-the-art primary school, maintaining a high standard of cleaning in schools is paramount. Already there are a number of changes I want to see put into place, subject to public feedback," the Minister said.

These included: encouraging individual cleaning contracts for individual schools; offering schools the choice of managing the contract themselves rather than through the Education Department's central office; joint monthly inspections by the contractor and school principal; and ensuring all new contracts began with a thorough vacation clean.

"All new contracts will begin in the school holidays, when vacation cleaning can be carried out to the highest standard," Mr Barnett said.

"This includes using high pressure hoses, carpet and window cleaning to ensure a standard of cleanliness which will be expected to be maintained by the contract cleaner.

"It is now important that school communities take the time to read the report and provide their comments on how contract cleaning in schools should continue and be managed smoothly."

Copies of the report will be sent to the Master Cleaners' Guild, Principals' and Registrars' Associations, the WA Council of State School Organisations, the Miscellaneous Workers' Union, the Civil Service Association and the State School Teachers' Union. Copies of the executive summary will also be available from all schools and complete reports at all district education offices.

The Minister said that an information line had been established to deal with inquiries. The number was 1800 625 985.

The report will be open for public comment until March 24.

Media contact: Justine Whittome 222 9699