Government plans three new primary schools in Canterbury
Education Minister Erica Stanford says all Kiwi kids deserve to thrive at school, "that starts with warm, safe and dry classrooms".
Photo:
RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The government is planning three new primary schools in Canterbury.
Two of the schools are planned for the rapidly expanding Selwyn District, while another is planned for the suburb of Halswell in Christchurch.
At an announcement in Lincoln, Education Minister Erica Stanford said the $161 million investment in school property in the region would deliver a new 12-classroom primary school at Prebbleton, 52 classrooms at existing schools in Selwyn and the purchase of land for another primary school in Lincoln.
There was also funding for 51 new classrooms in Canterbury and the school in Halswell.
"The Selwyn community has been loud and clear, they don't have enough classroom space to keep up with demand. We are acting decisively to address this through a comprehensive growth plan to provide certainty and ensure more children can flourish," Stanford said.
"Delivering this scale of projects in Canterbury was made possible by the government driving efficiencies in school property delivery. The use of standardised building designs, offsite manufacturing, and streamlining procurement have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 per cent. This has allowed 30 per cent more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to the year before.
"All Kiwi kids deserve to thrive at school, that starts with warm, safe and dry classrooms. Our priority is getting spades in the ground as soon as possible so schools, families and communities have certainty and benefit sooner."
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