But comments from Premier John Brumby last week revealed the Government didn't have all the facts before it sealed the fate of 22 students who are blind and hundreds more who are visually impaired.

Vision Australia's Burwood Education Centre shut its doors in December 2008 after Vision Australia sold the school site and chief executive Gerard Menses said blind or low-vision students had the "right to be educated within a mainstream education environment supported by specialist services".

However, Pearcedale parent Alan Lachman, who hoped to open a school for blind students this month, claims the level of assistance able to be provided by teachers and student aides is "so poor that students with a visual impairment ultimately fail in mainstream schools".

He told the Journal the Government's visiting teacher service, which provides specialists for visually impaired students in mainstream schools, had funding for only five hours a week per student. During these five hours, the specialist needed to train teachers, convert student material to Braille and teach the blind student how to read it.

Last Monday, the Journal told Mr Brumby about options available to blind students in mainstream schools. Mr Brumby said he did not know some parents believed the level of support from teacher aides was not adequate.

"I've not heard that before but I'll raise that with the Minister for Education and I'll ask her to examine that matter."

He said the Government was not considering opening its own specialist school for blind students.

"The advice which has gone to [the Education Minister] is that, as with other students with other specific disabilities, the best outcomes for them will be achieved in mainstream schools."

Mr Lachman said the Government didn't have all the available facts when it decided not to pick up where the Burwood Education Centre left off.