The combination of State and Federal Government funding is expected to have a flow-on effect, creating more jobs and and business for local suppliers.

Relieving regional education director Jim White told The Leader it was expected local companies that were successful in tendering for the work would be required to take on a certain percentage of apprentices, including a contingent of indigenous apprentices, to carry out the infrastructure upgrades.

This week it was announced five schools in the Tamworth electorate would receive more than $7 million for science labs and language centres, as part of the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution.

In excess of $1.8 million will be spent at Tamworth High School.

Principal Wayne Chaffey told The Leader the news was “absolutely wonderful” for the school.

"This money means we can bring all of our science labs into the 21st century,” Mr Chaffey said.

“Two of the labs that will be renovated are still in the state they were when they were first built in the 1960s.

“With the renovations, they will become what is known as Type 1 labs, which are built to be used for part practical and part theory classes.”

Mr Chaffey said two other labs at the school, which were refurbished in the early 1990s, would be renovated to become Type 2 labs. They will be be used as learning rooms. Another two labs will also be upgraded.

“We are very excited. The announcement basically means we will be able to rejuvenate the whole of D block, our science block,” he said.

Peel High School will also benefit from the funding, with $1.01 million to be invested to upgrade the school’s facilities.

Barraba Central School will benefit from the construction of a $1.96 million new science centre, which will replace the original science lab built in 1973.

A substantial investment will also be made in Manilla, where a new $920,000 language centre will be constructed. The centre will provide a modern environment and state-of-the-art technology to help students learn foreign languages. All centres developed under the Building Education Revolution will include booths with outlets where students can use headsets without disturbing others in the room.