Boys have been forced to use girls’ showers at some WA high schools due to chronic underfunding by the federal government, the State School Teachers’ Union of WA says.

The union has raised concerns after $20 million was drained from the Capital Grants program's $300 million fund by the federal government to go towards capital works funding in WA’s private schools.

Unlike almost all other rich economies, Australia runs three school systems rather than one. Credit:Quentin Jones

The grant is only available to private schools who are seeking to upgrade their school facilities, and is not available to the public school system.

State School Teachers’ Union of WA president Pat Byrne said it was disappointing to see funding sorely needed by WA’s state institutions spent on seminar rooms, food studios, landscaping and sporting complexes.