IBAC hearings lead to Vic education reform

An ambitious reform program has been launched following damning allegations of widespread corruption within the Victorian education department.

Secretary Gill Callister on Wednesday said a range of reforms had been put in place in response to issues raised at the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission over the past month.

During the hearings some senior officials admitted buying shares based on insider information, making secret payments to the company eventually awarded the Ultranet IT project, and using their positions to benefit themselves.

The Ultranet scheme, initiated under the Brumby Labor government, was scrapped by the Napthine coalition in 2013 when costs blew out from $60 million to more than $180 million.

"I found it hard to listen to some of the revelations coming out of the recent hearings," Ms Callister said on Wednesday.

"A number of individuals repeatedly and over a period of time failed to uphold the values of honesty, integrity and impartiality the community rightly expects of us."

She said as a result of the hearings a confidential service has been set up for staff to raise concerns about corrupt, illegal, unethical or negligent conduct and stronger financial control functions have been introduced.

IBAC CEO Alistair Maclean said the public examinations were a vital part of the investigation into alleged corruption in the education sector.

"Not only are they an invaluable investigative tool, they have assisted in informing the public sector and the community on the risks and impacts of corruption more broadly," Mr Maclean said.

He said while the public hearings were over, the investigation was ongoing.