Uncertainty over federal education funding leaves 12 new Catholic schools in doubt PLANS to build 12 new Catholic schools in Victoria have been thrown into doubt because of uncertainty about federal education funding. And parents could face higher fees at Catholic schools if there is a shortfall in the Federal Government's multi-billion-dollar school funding overhaul. Catholic Education executive director Stephen Elder issued the warnings at a federal parliamentary committee hearing in Canberra on school funding. "We actually can't commit to those schools because we don't know what capital we're going to get," he said. After the hearing Mr Elder said Catholic education was "under massive pressure to meet demand for new schools because of uncertainty surrounding capital funding." The proposed schools, revealed by the Herald Sun in December, are mostly in Labor-held seats in Melbourne's outer northern and western suburbs. On school fees, Mr Elder told the committee it would depend which funding model was chosen by the Government as negotiations were still in progress. He resisted saying what the impact could be as he was worried "it may create panic" among parents. He has expressed concern that Catholic students received, on average, 20 per cent less than the funding for a student in a government school and extra money had to be raised "to close the gap between Catholic and government schools." Victorian Liberal MP and committee member Alan Tudge said Labor was causing great confusion. The Government's approach has every school in every sector worried about their funding. New schools are being deferred, and Catholic school fees could double or triple. Is there nothing the Government touches that doesn't end in chaos? Mr Tudge said. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised a "crusade" to improve schools in response to the Gonski report on funding.