Victoria will spend $3.5bn on schools Victoria's premier has promised to spend an extra $3.5 billion on education over six years. VICTORIA will spend an extra $3.5 billion on schools over the next six years but wants the commonwealth to contribute double that amount. Premier Denis Napthine has demanded the federal government boost its commitment for Victorian schools under the Gonski reforms to $7 billion. Victoria will increase its own education spending by $3.5 billion. When pressed whether the state government would proceed with the boost regardless of the commonwealth's contribution, Dr Napthine said: "I'm confident that we'll provide $3.5 billion over the next six years." He said he did not expect any increased taxes or cuts to programs to fund the increase. Dr Napthine said the Gonski legislation must be amended to ensure decision-making power remains with local school principals and communities rather than federal officials. "The Tasmanian Labor government, the Queensland Liberal-National government and other governments have raised concerns about what is fundamentally a takeover of state education by Canberra-based bureaucrats," he said. Dr Napthine made the call shortly after the Gonski legislation passed federal parliament on Wednesday. Amendments to the legislation would not be possible until after the September federal election under a new parliament. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Dr Napthine's willingness to negotiate on school funding was "not before time." "Of course, the terms of the arrangement will be the same as the ones we have signed with NSW, South Australia and the ACT," she said. The offer I've made is a good one, a basically two-for-one funding deal between the federal government and state government for Victoria. Under the Victorian proposal, the state would still remain the main funder of education by 2019. "School education, fundamentally, is still the responsibility of state governments," Dr Napthine said. The federal government's offer to Victoria is currently $3.5 billion extra for state schools and $630 million for non-government schools under the Gonski reforms. Victorian opposition education spokesman James Merlino said the state government had ripped $625 million out of education and was taking orders from the federal coalition. "To get up in the parliament ... an hour after the law was passed in the Senate and say the only way that he will sign up to Gonski is if there are amendments is cowardice of the highest order," Mr Merlino said.