$ 164 million government plan for new classrooms to accommodate bulging school seats

The Government expects to create 3,000 construction jobs by investing 164 million dollars to improve classrooms across the country.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today’s announcement, which includes several new classrooms for the bulging school numbers, will improve school infrastructure for 7,500 students.

“We are prioritizing construction projects in schools so that more young New Zealanders can learn in warm, dry, modern classrooms that are fit for purpose,” he said.

“The Ministry of Education and the schools will collaborate with local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers and electricians, who in turn will have to buy products and supplies in local stores.”

Hipkins made the announcement today at Greytown School in Wairarapa that it will receive a $ 6 million investment for four new classrooms and a replacement for a “severely deteriorated” 100-year-old five-classroom block.

He published a list of North Island projects, worth $ 132 million. They include:

• $ 4.5 million for roll growth classrooms at two Tai Tokerau schools: Karetu School (one roll growth classroom) and Kaitaia School (five roll growth classrooms)

• More than $ 10 million to expand Ormiston Elementary School (250 additional places for students)

• More than $ 10 million to expand Kauri Flats School (350 additional places for students)

• $ 9 million to remodel and expand Browns Bay School (286 additional or improved student slots)

• $ 30 million for 91 short-term roll growth classrooms in Auckland

• $ 4 million for roll growth classrooms at two Waikato schools – Raglan Area School (four roll growth classroom) and Hukanui School (two roll growth classrooms)

• More than $ 30 million for three new schools and expansions in the Bay of Plenty for more than 1,000 additional students: Te Okuroa Drive School (expansion of stage 2), Papamoa College (expansion of stage 3 and 4), Taumata school ( stage 2 expansion)

• $ 2.5 million for continuous growth classrooms in two Gisborne schools: Wainui Beach School (two continuous growth classrooms) and Waikirikiri School (two continuous growth classrooms)

• $ 1 million for two roll growth classrooms at Te Horo School in Otaki

• $ 25 million for 77 short-term continuous growth classrooms at 24 schools on the North Island (excluding Auckland).

Tomorrow, Hipkins will announce investments in South Island schools worth $ 32 million.

He said construction of these projects was supported by the government’s $ 320 million plan to make training and apprenticeships in specific industries free.

The plan began on July 1 this year and, since then, 14,000 people have started their practices, 7,500 more than the previous year.

The improvement of schools is part of the Government’s National School Redevelopment Program, which aims to improve 180 schools over the next decade.

It was released in July, when several updates were revealed.