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The Welsh government has unveiled the details of the first phase of its school building scheme.
A total of £1.4 billion has been pledged by councils and the government under the 21st Century Schools programme.
Local councils will now have to provide half of the money as the scheme has been scaled back since a lack of capital put it on hold in July. The Welsh government was initially going to put up 70 per cent of funding.
Moreover, work on council priority projects will now take seven years to complete, instead of three under the original plans.
Education minister Leighton Andrews said: "Securing capital investment in these difficult economic times is essential not only for better education outcomes but for the continued support of our construction industry and the growth of our economy."
The first phase of the scheme includes the construction of 25 educational institutions in Cardiff, including a new Eastern High School. Furthermore, rebuilding or refurbishment work on 14 schools is due to take place in Swansea.
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