The funding will also add 37 new classrooms at 10 schools:
Information from the Ministry of Education shows the combined $161m investment in Canterbury schools and classrooms would add space for almost 2500 more students.
Construction on these projects would begin in the next six-12 months.
“Delivering this scale of projects in Canterbury was made possible by the Government driving efficiencies in school property delivery,” Stanford said.
“The use of standardised building designs, offsite manufacturing, and streamlining procurement have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%. This has allowed 30% more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to the year before.”
Yesterday, Stanford announced a $35m well overdue upgrade for a Wellington kura kaupapa, where students have been learning in dilapidated and inadequate classrooms for year.
School tumuaki Rawiri Wright said whānau and children were “delighted” but the moment was “bittersweet” as Wright thought about the many other kura that were not getting funding and renovations they needed.
“The general public has no idea of the extent of resource inequity kura kaupapa Māori has had to endure over the past 40 years.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.