Minister announces $62 million for more classrooms across South Island

35 minutes ago

Erica Stanford says the funding will help schools to cope with growth.

Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro

The government is spending $62 million on more classrooms across the South Island.

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the funding on Friday afternoon on a visit to Darfield High School in Canterbury.

The package includes a new 18-classroom primary school in Lincoln, the expansion of Rolleston College and dozens of classrooms across the South Island.

Stanford said the funding would help Canterbury and South Island schools to cope with growth.

"This significant investment will deliver 59 additional classrooms across the South Island and provide funding for upgrades at other schools," she said.

"We are ensuring that students are learning in safe, warm, dry and fit-for-purpose classrooms as their communities grow. Christchurch's western suburbs are growing rapidly. We are seeing strong housing development in Rolleston, Lincoln and Darfield. As more families move into these areas, we need to build more classrooms to keep up with demand."

The spending followed $108 million for new schools and classrooms in Canterbury in this year's Budget.

"Today's investment is allowing us to get ahead of demand, so schools are ready for the young families arriving in these communities," Stanford said.

"We are taking a practical, value for money approach to delivery. We've significantly reduced the average cost of a classroom through increasing the use of standard or modular builds which allows us to get spades in the ground faster, deliver classrooms at a lower cost and make every dollar go further.

"This work backs our government's focus on economic growth. Building and upgrading schools supports local jobs and keeps the construction sector moving. In addition, we have also set aside funding to purchase a site for a future new high school in Queenstown."

The Ministry of Education will work with schools to get projects underway in coming months.

The full list of projects:

A new 18 classroom primary school for Lincoln South

Four additional classrooms at Darfield School

Six additional classrooms at Darfield High School

Four additional classrooms at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo

Two additional classrooms at Allenton School

Two additional classrooms at Amuri Area School

The next expansion at Rolleston College

Two additional classrooms at Fiordland College

One additional classroom at Heddon Bush School

Two additional classrooms at South Westland Area School

Four additional classrooms at Hāwea Flat School

Two additional classrooms at Maitai School's base site and two learning support satellite classrooms for Maitai School at Springlands School

Amuri Area School, Logan Park High School, Southland Boys High School and Southland Girls High School will receive funding to address long-standing issues