Mangawhai Beach School gets big classroom boost

 

In the latest assessments of population growth in different areas and subsequent pressure on schools, Mangawhai Beach School has been a big winner in the Education Minister’s latest allocation of new classrooms, announced officially last Friday by the Ministry.

Around a thousand students will benefit from the 58 classrooms delivered to schools across the country by Education Minister Chris Hipkins, with Mangawhai Beach School allotted another eight classrooms as part of the Government’s initial education spend of $46 million as part of the total budget of $332 million over the next four years.

”It has been an arduous process but it’s gratifying to get this result,” says obviously pleased school principal Aaron Kemp. “We have been pushing the Education Department for two or three years for extra classrooms to support the growing roll. Temporary transportables will be coming soon to ease the congestion of classes in libraries and overcrowding, but it’s great to have something permanent to look forward to.”

Pupil increase has averaged around 10 percent annually although the school enrolled 100 new pupils in 2016, testament to the popularity of Mangawhai as a chosen location.

The school roll is expected to pass 500 pupils by the end of the year.

“This Coalition Government is committed to ensuring schools have enough classrooms that are modern and fit-for-purpose to support students to succeed,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.

Principal Aaron Kemp (inset) is looking forward to more permanent classrooms to ease the squeeze. (MAIN PHOTO/JS Photography)