Rooms to meet demand

Rapid growth to the school population at Mt Albert Grammar has seen the Government commit $6 million in funding towards new classrooms.

Associate education minister Nikki Kaye says the money will help fund 21 new classrooms as part of a rebuilding and expansion project.

‘‘The Auckland region is growing rapidly and the Ministry of Education anticipates that up to 600 new classrooms will be needed across the region over the next four years,’’ Ms Kaye says.

‘‘The new buildings for Mt Albert Grammar and St Thomas’s School [in Kohimarama] are part of a broader classroom building programme provided for in Budget 2013 which will address the capacity needs for the region.’’

Nineteen of the Mt Albert Grammar classrooms will accommodate roll growth and two will replace older buildings.

The new include 11 buildings standard classrooms and 10 specialist classrooms, all of which will meet modern learning environment standards.

Until the classrooms are completed temporary accommodation is being used to support the school’s roll.

‘‘The Government has good plans in place to match expanding school rolls in areas where population growth is rapid, such as Auckland, and these new classrooms are part of that plan,’’ Ms Kaye says.