Opposition MPs have raised concerns the State Government will use the Federal Government's Building the Education Revolution grants for schools maintenance to absolve itself of its responsibility.

Inga Peulich, state MP for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Opposition parliamentary secretary for education, said key issues impacting on Monash education included a decline in state school enrolments, unmet maintenance requirements and a Victorian teacher shortage.

She called for a full, open and transparent audit of the capital needs and maintenance requirements in every Victorian school and said the budget must provide a regular source of funding to address the needs of schools "which have appallingly been mismanaged over the past decade".

"The state budget must also address the need to lift the quality of teaching in local schools and introduce a positive funding initiative to address the alarming decline in literacy and numeracy standards."

She hoped Premier John Brumby would listen "to the advice given by the State Opposition and Monash school community to properly fund education in Monash."

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State Government spokesman Chris Owner said it was "currently finalising the coming 2009-10 state budget". "We cannot rule anything in or out ahead of the budget, which will be released in May."

Erin Bull and Liselotte Johnsson