Classes overflow into libraries
Explosive growth in rolls is forcing overcrowded schools to use libraries andhalls as classrooms, and gather in sub-zero temperatures.
About 60 of the 68 state schools in central and south Auckland are working at or above their student capacity.
Most have converted their libraries or halls into teaching spaces to cope while they wait on temporary relief from relocatable classrooms.
In the South Island, some students were being taught in an asbestosclad woodwork room in sub-zero conditions and had to give up their library for extra classroom space.
Methven Primary School near Ashburton had to hold classes in its library and use a derelict woodwork room as a hall.
The coldest morning they had this winter was -7 degrees Celsius and students and teachers in the noninsulated hall bunkered down in skijackets.
A mobile library was arranged since two classrooms took over the space more than a year ago.
Principal Chris Murray said the rural school was designed for 220 students but growth in the area over the past four years had driven the roll up to 320.
‘‘It’s been trying times. The board of trustees had to be strategic about where to put students and where we had the spare space,’’ he said. ‘‘Every nook and cranny was full.’’ But two weeks ago, they were able to move into a brand new classroom fitted with a heat pump and ‘‘all the bells and whistles’’.
However, the library will still house two classrooms until the end of September.
Rowandale Primary School in south Auckland gave up its library five years ago to make teaching space.
‘‘We haven’t had a proper library for so long that these kids don’t know what a library is,’’ said principal Karl Vasau.
The school created a pop-up library in a room so small only 10 students at one time can visit.
Currently, there are 628 students packed into a building designed for 480.
‘‘We’re using every part at the school as possible because of the overcrowding,’’ said Vasau.
As a temporary fix, the Ministry of Education delivered six relocatable classrooms last year. But there’s still no library.
Lynda Stuart, principal representative of the New Zealand Education Institute, said principals are doing the best they can with what they have.
She said schools working above capacity had no choice but to forfeit libraries and halls, which threw the whole school out of function.
‘‘That means other children can’t use it and it’s not a school-wide facility anymore. It’s also the fact that the children are in a temporary place,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s not their learning environment to specifically meet their needs.’’
Michael Maher, Auckland Primary Principals’ Association representative, said migration and immigration were the main factors behind significant roll growth in Auckland over the past few years.
But Rob Giller, acting head of education infrastructure for the Ministry of Education, said the ministry was looking ahead 30 years and working closely with local bodies.
‘‘It is no secret that the population and therefore student numbers are growing not only in Auckland, but also in Hamilton, Tauranga, Central Otago and Queenstown,’’ he said.
‘‘School rolls are also prone to short-term fluctuations, so if a school is calculated as operating at capacity today, it doesn’t imply that it will be tomorrow, or that it has an ongoing shortage of facilities.’’