THE State Government has refused to replace classrooms at a Rowville primary school which were destroyed by fire last month.

On January 13, portable classrooms at Heany Park Primary School were set alight, with one totally destroyed and another severely damaged.

School council president Andrew Williams told the Journal the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development had since told the school the classrooms would not be replaced.

"I believe that despite the education department's regional office supporting a replacement, the decision was made by more senior departmental officials."

Mr Williams said the department had told the school that Heany Park Primary School had "more classrooms than we were entitled to according to the formula they use".

While he agreed the school was overallocated classrooms according to the department's criteria, Mr Williams said the loss of the classrooms would result in changes to the delivery of some specialist programs.

The department works out the number of classrooms based on one classroom for 25 students enrolled.

"It is a rigid policy that is operated without any emotional intelligence whatsoever."

Mr Williams said he had raised his concerns with Education Minister Bronwyn Pike. "It is terrible that the school has had to go through a fire, but to be made a victim a second time by the department is really just sad."

Parent Jennifer Bakker said she was shattered by the Government's decision. "The kids' education is going to be impacted. It's definitely unfair. The kids are the ones who suffer."

Another parent, Kim Foote, called the Government's decision a disgrace. "I was shocked. You lose two classrooms, you get them replaced."

Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling said the school had been dealt a further blow by the Government's decision. "It is clear the Brumby Government doesn't care for the needs of Knox pupils."

State Government spokesman Chris Owner said relocatable classrooms were allocated to meet fluctuations in a school's population. "The current allocation of classrooms at Heany Park is sufficient for current enrolments."