Some Southland schools are in line to receive classroom upgrades sooner than expected.

In a bid to reboot the economy, the Government has announced it is bringing forward plans to upgrade classrooms at as many as 600 small or remote state schools around the country. The four-year programme is part of a wider Government target of all schools having quality learning environments by 2030.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced last week that the upgrades would be brought forward as part of a $160 million property improvement programme.

“The Government went hard and early on our package to support businesses, and we’re now bringing forward infrastructure projects to reboot the economy,” he said.

“This upgrade package is part of a pipeline of investments to improve our schools and it will create and support jobs for local tradespeople and businesses.”

He said the Ministry of Education and schools planned to use local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, technicians and landscapers, who would in turn purchase products and supplies from local trade stores, which would help stimulate the economy. 

Ministry of Education Head of Education Infrastructure Kim Shannon said 32 Southland schools were included in the programme, which would assess their lighting quality, noise levels and temperature.

Ms Shannon said these schools were automatically included in the programme because they met the qualification criteria.

"A school must be entitled to four or fewer classrooms, and/or must score 2.0 or above on the isolation index, which takes into account a school’s proximity to the nearest town, and the services and amenities available in that town."

“All schools that need improvements, such as LED lights, acoustic panelling and ceiling insulation, will receive them, with work starting later this year," she said. 

As the project is still in early stages, the Ministry of Education said it did not yet know exactly what work might be required at each Southland school until they were assessed. 

According to the Ministry’s website, the first year of the four-year programme would be spent on planning and procurement, then delivery starts in 2021. 

"By the end of 2020, we expect to be able to tell you what year you are in and we will have talked to all the schools who will be in the first six months of the programme."

"By the beginning of 2021, we expect to be able to tell everyone else what three-month period they are in."

Mr Hipkins said this work was important as small or remote schools faced higher costs to deliver these kinds of improvements, due to their size or location.

"We know that small and remote schools face some unique property challenges and need a different approach," he said. 

Southland schools included in the programme are:

• Glenham School

• Waikaia School

• Te Tipua School

• Hedgehope School

• Hillside Primary School

• Tuturau Primary School

• Halfmoon Bay School

• Gorge Road School

• Mararoa School

• Garston School

• Waianiwa School

• Mossburn School

• Heddon Bush School

• Drummond Primary School

• Wallacetown School

• Dipton School

• Thornbury Schoo

• Takitimu Primary School

• Hauroko Valley Primary School

• Lumsden School

• Tokanui School

• Balfour School

• Lochiel School

• Woodlands Full Primary School

• Waiau Area School

• Northern Southland College

• Fiordland College

• Te Anau School

• Knapdale School

• Otama School

• Pukerau School

• Waikaka School