Around 250 schools are expected to be built, funded, or under construction before the next Holyrood elections, according to Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Around 250 schools are expected to be built, funded, or under construction before the next Holyrood elections, according to Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

She has promised that 100,000 pupils will be removed from crumbling school buildings and placed in cutting-edge facilities by 2011, cutting by over a third the number being educated in tired property.

Ms Hyslop's comments came six months after an official report found it could take up to 20 years to make all schools fit for purpose. Audit Scotland said in March that more than a third were still in poor or bad condition.

She said: "While the report highlights that progress has been made in improving the school estate, it also brings into focus that this government has inherited an estate which is not yet in good enough shape.

"We are committed to lifting 100,000 school pupils, by 2011, out of tired and crumbling school buildings and classrooms and providing them with cutting-edge accommodation and facilities in which to continue their 21st-century education."

She said there would be increased momentum behind the improvements, following the creation of a group to consider how the actions recommended in the report should be taken forward.

The minister pointed to a number of projects that are already under way.

"There's more than £2bn of committed investment in Scotland's schools at the moment," she said.

"We've honoured our commitment to continue to improve the school estate. This government has already signed off seven major local authority building projects since May 2007 and another four are in the pipeline.

"Combined, these have a capital value of around £1bn, financially supported by decisions of the SNP government."

The Education Secretary added: "We expect 250 schools to be built, funded or under construction through various funding mechanisms during the life of this parliament."

Ms Hyslop was last night due to open the new Linwood High School in Renfrewshire.