Chaplains are confident the Abbott government will reject the Commission of Audit’s recommendation to abolish the $222 million school chaplaincy program.

The chaplaincy program, announced by the Howard government in 2006 and expanded by Labor, is due to expire at the end of this school year and is facing a second High Court challenge next week.

The Commission of Audit recommended scrapping the chaplaincy program. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer

National School Chaplaincy Association secretary Peter James said he expects the government to keep its election promise and announce new funding for the scheme in the May budget.

“The government supports chaplaincy and sees the value it delivers to schools and wants to see it continued,” Mr James said.