THE equity gap between public and private schools will remain despite the Federal Government's $14 billion stimulus package to upgrade school buildings, an economic analysis has found.

The former World Bank education economist and policy analyst, Adam Rorris, said that while schools welcomed the additional capital funding to build new halls and improve facilities, the extra money would not target the poorest public and private schools.

"It does not take into consideration the existing capital investment in schools," he said.

Mr Rorris said the estimated capital investment for private schools last year was $1774 per student compared to $948 per public school student.

This year, it would increase to $3020 for each private school student and $2470 for a public school student. This would reduce the equity gap from $826 to $550 this year.

"The $14 billion provides a large dollop of money for all schools including public schools that have been starved of funds for a long time and poorer private schools," Mr Rorris said.

"But because the money is untargeted, the gap remains between public and private schools and between the poorer and wealthy private schools.

"While it narrows the gap … it is not a long-term solution. A substantial gap remains and a sizeable gap will return at the end of the three-year period of the funding program."

The Federal Government's "Building the Education Revolution" program aims to create new jobs and stimulate the economy. It includes $12.4 billion for primary schools to build new facilities and $1 billion for high schools to build new language or science laboratories. Mr Rorris said the building program was being rushed through before schools could properly consider how to make the best use of the money.

"A practical recommendation would be for the Commonwealth and the states to agree to allow for the [disadvantaged] schools to be given more time to plan for their investment effectively and to increase the amounts available to the high priority [disadvantaged] schools," he said.