A spokesperson from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's Gippsland branch said the State Government had invested more than $60 million in education in Gippsland since 1999.

''This is part of the biggest school rebuilding program in Victoria's history, the $1.9 billion Victorian Schools Plan will see every government (school) across the state rebuilt, renovated or extended.''

According to the spokesperson, investments in Gippsland included $5.3 million for Maffra Secondary College, $5.5 million for Maffra Primary School, $2.6 million for East Gippsland Specialist School, $2.9 million for Orbost Secondary College and $3.8 for Sale College.

''This is in addition to the more than $50.4 million allocated this year to schools across the state for maintenance projects.''

However Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan said the State Government's comments were an insult to the Gippsland schools and communities in need of maintenance.

According to Mr Ryan, figures regarding local schools with outstanding maintenance requests were taken from State Government documents the National Party received under Freedom of Information laws.

''(The State Government) producing the same old tired rhetoric in the face of their own figures is pretty reflective that they are not taking the situation seriously,'' he said.

''There are 36 schools in Gippsland in significant need of maintenance.

''Now (The State Government) needs to get out there and do it.''