A MAJOR school rebuilding programme could be delivered two years early thanks to a £200 million funding boost, the Welsh Government announced today.

Finance minister Jane Hutt said the £1.4 billion 21st Century Schools programme was now expected to be complete in 2018-19.

Education and skills minister, Huw Lewis, indicated the flagship programme would help break the link between poverty and low attainment by creating new facilities in some of the most deprived areas of Wales.

The Welsh Government also expects the school building drive to create and support 23,000 construction jobs.

The funding boost was approved following the extension of the Welsh Government borrowing initiative, which increases the ability of local authorities to fund major infrastructure programmes.

Ms Hutt said: “I’m pleased to announce that we are accelerating our flagship 21st Century schools programme.

“This will ensure that across Wales, we will see investment in the right schools, in the right places, at the right time.

“We expect this investment will create or support around 23,000 much needed jobs in the construction industry, while fostering growth in the local and wider economy.”