News
A programme upgrading 45 of Southland's small and remote schools is benefiting students across the province.
"It's really positive that the work of the Small Schools Upgrade Programme continues to support hundreds of students around Invercargill and Southland - and reduces the burden of maintenance for busy local school principals and boards.
Schools from Otautau, Hedgehope, Tisbury and Bluff, to Halfmoon Bay, Riverton, Lochiel, Invercargill Middle and Woodlands, have received or are about to get upgrades to their buildings.
"This support is long overdue and I know that it has, and will continue to make, our schools the positive, happy and welcoming places that local families enjoy.
"When National came into office school property maintenance was failing to keep pace with need, and classrooms had suffered from a lack of investment over decades.
"To speed up the pace of maintenance programmes the Government has:
- Raised the 5-Year Agreement funding (base rate by 50 percent to $45/m2 and doubled the minimum allocation for small schools to $90,000).
- Fast-tracked a $413 million investment package for maintenance, rural school upgrades and essential infrastructure.
- Reduced average classroom construction costs by using standard designs and offsite manufacturing.
- Created the standalone New Zealand School Property Agency (NZSPA) and appointed its board to fix an inefficient bureaucratic process.
"This has seen the installation of new and efficient LED lights, acoustic panels to reduce classroom noise, ceiling insulation and carpet with built-in underlay.
"This is about creating warm, safe and dry classrooms for Southland children and young people to learn in and to thrive.
"Principals say these upgrades are making a significant difference to the school environment and I am happy that the National Government has been able to make this difference in the lives of our young people."