Aus$500,000 have been set aside by the Access to Quality Education Programme to help schools around Fiji in their upgrading works.

Access to Quality Education Programme Infrastructure Specialist Jeffrey Ing said this is because lack of funding is a major problem that hinders the upgrading works of schools around the country.

Ing said they have visited schools around the country and noticed the lack of maintenance work is due to no funding.

He said the old age of some school buildings also contribute to the problem.