Southland's 70 state schools will receive more than $9 million in total from the Government next year to spend on facility upgrades that have been put on the back burner.

The Government announced today it would be spending $396 million nationwide, with each eligible school receiving a minimum of $50,000, regardless of the size of its school roll.

Each eligible school will receive $693 per student, up to a maximum of $400,000

In Southland, the biggest recipients are Southland Boys' and Girls' High Schools, each receiving the maximum of $400,000.

Winton's Central Southland College received more than $388,000, and Gore High School was given more than $334,000.

Overall, the province's 70 state schools will receive $9,084,782.

The one-off cash injection is the first project to be announced from the Government’s infrastructure package.

School property projects the investment can be spent on include:

•    Classroom upgrades, including making classrooms more flexible and modern

•    Replacing roofing and guttering 

•    Upgrading storm water drainage systems

•    Installing energy efficient heating and lighting 

•    Resurfacing outdoor courts and paved areas.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government was taking advantage of historically low interest rates to improve school buildings and grounds.

“I’ve visited plenty of schools and I’d be hard pressed to name one that didn’t have need. You hear horror stories about kids learning in damp, mouldy classrooms," she said.

“The investment is great for local tradespeople. We want schools to engage local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, landscapers – this is an opportunity for work at a local level in every town and city in the country"

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said that, in recent years, many schools had to put off building projects and make do with patched up classrooms and playgrounds. 

“This cash injection, to be administered by the Ministry of Education through existing planning processes, gives schools breathing room to catch up on deferred building work," he said.

"It’s a well-deserved early Christmas present for school communities."

Key elements of the policy

•    Each eligible school will receive $693 per student, up to a maximum of $400,000

•    Every school will receive at least $50,000 regardless of size of school roll

•    Special schools will receive $200,000 each, regardless of roll size.  

•    Money will need to be spent within the next 24 months

•    Around 2050 state schools opened before 2015 are eligible 

•    Integrated schools, schools built through a Public Private Partnership, or schools in leased accommodation are not eligible.