Almost 30 per cent of principals surveyed by the auditor-general believe they are not getting value for money from the controversial $16.2 billion school building program.

And a third of schools have complained about the scheme, contradicting claims by the Federal Government that less than 1 per cent of schools are dissatisfied.

The statistics come from a survey of more than 620 school principals which is contained at the end of auditor-general Ian McPhee’s report released on Wednesday.

The report examined the role of the Commonwealth in establishing the building program for primary schools as part of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) but did not extend its inquiry to examining individual projects.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard used one quote from the survey to back up her claims that the BER scheme was a success, saying that “more than 95 per cent of school principals saw the program as providing ongoing value to their school and their school community”.

But the same survey indicated a high level of dissatisfaction with the process.

Forty-five per cent of principals said there was not sufficient time to consult with the school community about the building projects and 43 per cent said the time frame for submitting the BER application for funding was insufficient.

The auditor-general originally had responses from 3,100 schools surveyed about the BER, 75 per cent of which were public schools.

But instead of using this data they used a select sample of just 620 with government schools making up a smaller percentage – just 40 per cent.

The report says this was to ensure a “more statistically robust” sample of results.

Elsewhere in the report, it was noted that a majority of independent schools took the design, tendering and implementation into their own hands and were more satisfied on questions of value for money.

Government schools, the majority of whom accepted a “cookie cutter” choice of building, appeared less satisfied.

“Concerns about value for money predominantly arise in the case of schools that have had the design and construction of BER P21 works procured by their Education Authority, rather than those who procured these services themselves,” the report says.

The report also said 66 per cent of school building work had not begun despite the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations reporting to the auditor-general that “97 per cent of BER P21 projects had commenced by February 28″ this year.

The department’s definition of “commencement” was any paperwork associated with the application rather than work on the ground.

The auditor-general has not made any specific recommendations to the Government or to the DEEWR.

The report did not examine the issue of cost blowouts on building works or allegations of rorting.

Ms Gillard said questions around value for money were being further explored through the work of the BER Implementation Taskforce, headed up by Brad Orgill.

The taskforce will investigate complaints with regards to value for money with its first report to be delivered in three months.