Ontario will spend $784 million this year to build or renovate 79 schools across the province but opposition critics say it’s not enough to address a growing multibillion-dollar repair backlog.

Education Minister Mitzie Hunter said Monday the funding will support construction of 39 new schools, and additions and renovations to 40 additional facilities. The work will include development of child care centres in the schools, with plans to create 2,700 new child care spaces.

“Ontario is committed to building learning environments that support student achievement and well-being,” Hunter said in a statement. “That’s why we continue to invest in new, renovated, and expanded schools so that every student can learn and grow in a space that enables them to reach their full potential.”

The government said the announcement comes in addition to a funding commitment made by the province last year to spend $1.4 billion on school repairs.

Ontario has an approximate $15 billion repair backlog at its 4,900 publicly funded schools.

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