“Parents are starting to get antsy about the state of schools,” she said. “They are not happy with the toilets not being cleaned. The schools are not being cleaned properly." While she said the department had been supportive, she fears the situation could deter some parents from enrolling at government schools that "have great programs but are not looking clean.” A dirty floor at a Melbourne school. In a bid to eradicate the widespread underpayment of cleaners, the Andrews government slashed more than 100 state schools' cleaning contracts across Melbourne and replaced them with just eight.

The overhaul followed a long-running campaign by United Voice, the union representing cleaners. While new cleaning standards have been introduced, principals say the hours of cleaning they receive has been significantly reduced under the new arrangements, which came into effect in July. One Melbourne school has lost 500 hours of cleaning a year. Ian Sloane said some areas at Mitcham Primary School were not being cleaned properly. Credit:Joe Armao Mitcham Primary School principal Ian Sloane said some areas of his school were not being cleaned properly in the wake of the changes.

“Drinking troughs are meant to be cleaned, but they haven’t been," he said. "They have accumulated leaves and sand and grime. Cobwebs haven't been cleaned. The performing arts centre is dirty, there is mud on the floor. I’ve had to sweep it out.” Loading But Education Minister James Merlino defended the changes, saying they ensured cleaners were paid properly for their vital work. “These reforms were put into place after multiple investigations found vulnerable staff were being underpaid and mistreated in this industry and we needed to fix it. We have no tolerance for the underpayment or mistreatment of staff,” Mr Merlino said.

He said the companies awarded the contracts had to meet new cleaning standards, which were created in consultation with principals and school business managers. “The service providers must meet these standards and must allocate sufficient resources to do so.” Loading It is understood the government has increased overall funding for school cleaning as part of the changes, but the size of the increase is not known. Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Sue Bell said one Melbourne principal had resorted to cleaning her school toilets herself.

"She didn't want her children using an unclean toilet," she said. "It's wrong." She said most schools had seen a reduction in their cleaning hours and some had been assigned inexperienced cleaners. Illustration: Matt Golding "It’s a tumultuous time of change and the cleanliness of the school is the victim," she said. Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek said his cleaners were working flat out, but it was impossible for them to thoroughly clean his school during the hours they were employed.

His cleaning hours have been reduced by 10 hours a week, or 500 hours over the school year. “Staff and parents have noticed the decline in cleaning standard this term and are horrified,” he said. An uncleaned sink at a Melbourne school. The Opposition’s assistant small business spokesman, Michael Gidley, said the changes were having a “detrimental impact" on schools. He recently visited schools in his Mount Waverley electorate and ran his hand across carpets and skirting boards.

“There was dirt and grime,” he said. Cobwebs, dust and dirt accumulating on a school door. “To think that our kids are being educated in this environment as a consequence of this decision is really worrying.” Loading Mr Gidley said while it was unacceptable for cleaners to be underpaid, the government's knee-jerk reaction had punished many cleaning companies who'd done nothing wrong.