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Macleans College in Auckland held taiko drumming workshops in their Japanese language classes. Photo: https://www.asianz.org.nz/
Many schools around the country are at their wits end waiting for much needed classrooms to be built - and Auckland's Macleans College has resorted to shelling out millions of dollars for new buildings. The Ministry of Education has had to pause 20 big projects to deliver over 100 classrooms amid cost over-runs and roll growth uncertainty.
Forecasts have suggested in Auckland alone, schools could grow by 30,000 students by 2030. Steve Hargreaves is the principal Macleans College and he says roll growth, fueled by immigration is putting immense pressure on facilities and waiting for the Ministry of Education to react is demoralising.
And in Dunedin the Principal of Andersons Bay School, Pauline Simpson says she feels powerless and fed up after the Ministry pulled the pin at the eleventh hour on plans for more sorely needed classrooms.