The Government will spend $62.5 million on new classrooms and school upgrades across the South Island, including a new primary school in Lincoln South and expansions at schools in Darfield, Rolleston and Christchurch’s Somerfield.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the funding package during a visit to Darfield High School on Friday, saying it would deliver 59 new classrooms across the South Island and fund upgrades at several existing schools.
The investment comes as growing communities in Canterbury continue to put pressure on school rolls, particularly in Rolleston, the country’s fastest-growing territorial authority, along with Lincoln and Darfield.
In Canterbury, the funding includes an 18-classroom primary school for Lincoln South, four new classrooms at Darfield School, six at Darfield High School, four at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo, two at Allenton School, two at Amuri Area School and the next stage of expansion at Rolleston College.
Stanford said the latest funding brought total Government investment in South Island school growth projects over the past three Budgets to about $300 million.
