Minister Acts To Believe Space Shortage At School

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 13

Minister Acts To Believe Space Shortage At School

ffif - .'< >■ > 's> VS-.. - ■ (f n/m Our Own Reporter) > ■' WELLINGTON, July 2. The Government is moving quickly to overcome the shortage of post-primary schooi accommodatiori in the south Christchurch area. The Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) said tonight that lie had arranged for the construction of a double-unit . prefabricated classroom building at Cashmere High A thorough examination of all post-primary school entries for next year had been made, he said, trend as a result, another post-primary school would possibly be built in the Christchurch area soon.

Mr Skoglund said that he had received representations a fortnight ago from three Government members of Parliament, the Speaker (Mr Macfarlane) who represents Christchurch Central, Mr M. A. Connelly (Riccarton), and Mr N. E. Kirk (Lyttelton), concerning the enrolment difficulties in post-primary schools in Christchurch.

Mr Skoglund said he immediately sent down officials who made a thorough investigation of enrolments at all post-primary schools in Christchurch for 1960.

“It was disclosed that, at the end of this year, there will be 670 more pupils to be accommodated in secondary schools than there were at the end of last year,” said Mr Skoglund. “Every postprimary school had admitted the greatest number possible, and some had gone far beyond what they would wish to do, having regard to their accommodation and the structure of their classes.

“The two new post-primary schools, Aranui and Burnside, had enrolled 490 first-year pupils.” Mr Skoglund added that it would appear that the distribution of the new schools had not completely met the requirements of all the suburbs. Some of these had recorded exceptional expansion, while the older suburbs had lost population. In general, the position had worked out fairly well,, but some pupils from the St. Martins and Huntsbury areas, between Linwood High School and Cashmere High School, had been unable to gain admission to either of these schools. Both were full. “The Government would like to see all children going to a

school in the area in which they live,” said Mr Skoglund. “Further investigation will have to ,be made; but, in order to meet the demand for this year, we have decided ip approve the erection of a double-unit prefabricated classroom at Cashmere High School. This should enable the 22 Children Who have been unable to enroll in any school to enter Ckshmere High School. It will also make allowance for some who have to travel longer distances thtan are desirable.”