The government has announced plans to build three new primary schools in Canterbury.
Two of these schools will be located in the rapidly growing Selwyn District. The third school is planned for Halswell, a suburb of Christchurch.
At a recent event in Lincoln, Education Minister Erica Stanford revealed a $161 million investment in school infrastructure for the region. This funding will support the construction of a new 12-classroom primary school in Prebbleton, add 52 classrooms to existing schools in Selwyn, and secure land for another primary school in Lincoln.
Additional funding will also create 51 new classrooms across Canterbury, including at the Halswell school.
Minister Stanford said the community in Selwyn has made it clear that there is not enough classroom space to meet growing demand. “We are acting quickly with a thorough growth plan to provide certainty and ensure more children can succeed,” she stated.
Stanford highlighted that the government has been able to deliver projects on this scale by improving efficiencies in school construction. The use of standard designs, offsite manufacturing, and streamlined procurement has cut the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent. This efficiency led to 30 percent more classrooms being built last year compared to the previous year.
“All New Zealand children deserve to thrive at school. That begins with classrooms that are warm, safe, and dry,” said Stanford. “Our priority is to start construction quickly so schools, families, and communities can have certainty and benefit sooner.”
