Australia announced a Aus$14.5 billion (US$15.2 billion) plan to boost funding for schools on Sunday in one of the country's biggest education reforms in decades.
Under the proposal, the extra cash will be made available over six years from 2014 with the government setting a goal for Australian schools to be among the world's top five in reading, numeracy and science by 2025.
"A world class school system is a key part of a strong economy for the future," said Prime Minister Julia Gillard, a former education minister. "It will help every Australian child get the best education possible and secure a high-wage, high skilled job."
Gillard plans to make education a central pitch in her bid to be re-elected to government in September, with her ruling Labour currently badly lagging in opinion polls following a bitter party leadership struggle. Of the money, the government would put in Aus$2 for every Aus$1 in extra investment made by the country's states and territories to allow classrooms and teachers to be better resourced.
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