KENT schools will benefit from a huge cash injection to help tackle a chronic backlog of repairs and transform school buildings.

The Government has announced that Kent County Council will be allowed to join forces with the private sector to spend £60million refurbishing buildings and schools under its Private Finance Initiative.

At the same time, schools in the county are to share in a further £27million of Government cash to help meet the costs of repairing and improving rundown classrooms.

That money will come from the Department for Education’s modernisation fund and will be spread over two years.

The £60million PFI money will mean KCC will finally be able to embark on a series of major building improvement schemes across the county.

The authority’s last bid to the Government for money under the scheme was rejected, leaving the council unable to begin long-overdue work.

Education chiefs, who had bid for £92million, have welcomed the news.

“The £92million bid this year would have rebuilt or refurbished to a high standard just eight schools. We are delighted we are among this year’s allocations. However, with a £32million shortfall, there are some difficult decisions to make,” said cabinet member for finance Cllr Nick Chard.

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Mike Eddy said the money was a “major step in the right direction".

Schools minister David Milliband said: “A clear link exists between modern, well-maintained schools and high levels of pupil attainment.”

KCC will now have to spell out in detail to ministers how they intend to spend the money. Contractors will then be invited to bid to do the work, likely to get underway at the start of 2005.