$73m earmarked for new regional classrooms

Tired classrooms will be replaced and new modern learning spaces built for students in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty, the Government has announced.

About $73 million will be invested in two major redevelopments and 39 new roll-growth classrooms at 15 schools.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced the package during a visit to Otumoetai College in Tauranga yesterday. About $47 million will be used to repair Otumoetai’s buildings, which have suffered weather-tightness problems and are in poor condition.

‘‘This Government is focused on rebuilding education and in

the case of these big school redevelopments we are taking that literally, fixing leaky buildings and creating modern and safe spaces for kids to learn in,’’ Ardern said.

The redevelopment will replace 57 teaching spaces, the library, and provide a new entrance for the college.

‘‘It will also meet the school’s capacity needs in the short to medium term and improve the layout of the school site to make further expansion possible.

‘‘Every child deserves decent facilities to learn and achieve their potential.’’

Hipkins said further announcements were in the pipeline. ‘‘Earlier today I had the opportunity to inform Tauranga Girls College that the Government will be investing $6 million to redevelop a three-storey block with significant weathertightness defects. The problem has been known since 2011, so it’s well-overdue news for the school.’’

Ardern and Hipkins also announced a further $20 million for 39 new roll-growth teaching spaces to be built at schools across the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and the Bay of Plenty (see sidebar).

The Ministry of Education will work with the boards at each school to get planning underway on these projects as fast as possible, Hipkins said.