It came as the opposition promised that supporting non-government schools to improve standards would be a "core value" of a Liberal-Nationals government.

Nine weeks out from the November poll, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria executive director Stephen Elder has urged Labor to renew a program that provides capital works funding for non-government schools.

“It’s fine for the state government to promote its own school sector, but they are denying parents’ choice and crushing aspiration by starving Catholic schools of the capital works support needed to meet demand, placing bigger burdens on government schools and taxpayers in the process,” he said.

He said the Catholic sector could increase its enrolments by 30 per cent if it received additional capital support.

Labor announced ahead of the 2014 state election that it would spend $120 million on capital works at non-government schools over four years.

The money was allocated to 92 schools but the program was not renewed in this year's state budget.

Both major parties will want to avoid an electoral backlash from the Catholic schools lobby, which has been fiercely campaigning against the federal government’s Gonski 2.0 funding plan.

Education Minister James Merlino said the government was working with the non-government sector on future funding needs and would be making more education announcements in coming months.

He said Labor created the $120 million fund for non-government school capital works following "four long years in which the Liberal Party failed to provide one cent for these schools".

"Non-government schools are an important part of Victoria’s education system, with more than  one-third of Victorian students studying at Catholic or independent schools,” Mr Merlino said.

The Opposition’s education spokesman Tim Smith said the Coalition would reveal its capital works policy before the election.

"It will be a core value of a Liberal Nationals Government to support non-government schools to improve standards and outcomes for all students and that includes capital funding," he said.

“We believe when it comes to giving children the best education, it’s important to give parents choice. That’s why low-fee, independent and Catholic schools are so important for parents and their children.”

Mr Smith said non-government schools took pressure off the public education system, an argument also put forward by the Catholic and independent sectors.

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green called on both major parties to expand and continue the capital funding program.

She said Melbourne was experiencing rapid population growth and there was increasing demand for an independent school education.

"Existing schools are looking to build or establish new campuses in growth areas while community and church groups are being approached to establish new independent schools,” she said.

"The capital funding provided by the government has been very important in helping meet this demand, so that parents can choose a school that best meets the needs of their child."

But public education advocates argue non-government schools should not receive any funding for capital works, unless they abide by the same rules as public schools.

Monash University senior lecturer David Zyngier said these rules included enrolling all students, regardless of whether they had a disability or were from poor families, and not discriminating against employees based on their religion, marital status or sexuality.

“If they are going to take public money they need to play by public rules,” he said.

The Andrews government's spending on non-government school buildings is dwarfed by its spending on state schools.

In the past four years the Andrews government has invested $3.7 billion in state school infrastructure. This compares with  $1.2 billion under the former Coalition state government.