New schools for Takanini? Have your say

Media Release

15 December 2005

New schools for Takanini?
Have your say on future schooling in the area

The Ministry of Education will soon be asking for public comment about the future needs of schooling for the Takanini area.

The Ministry’s Northern Regional Schools Network Planning Manager, Brenda Radford, said that the Ministry has identified Takanini as an area of significant population growth. The population is projected to grow from about 6,000 today to 24,000 over the next 15 years.

Additional capacity equivalent to that of up to three new primary schools and one new secondary school might eventually be needed to meet the educational needs of new families. The first of the new schools could be needed by about 2009 or 2010.

The intention is that any new schooling would be developed as an extension of the existing school network, rather than as a separate network of new schools.

Currently there are seven primary and one secondary schools near the edges of the area. These existing schools cater for students from Takanini and Papakura. They are unlikely to be able to cope with the expected increases in student numbers.

The numbers of school-age children are projected to increase as follows:

- primary 850 now to 2,800 in 2020

- secondary 140 now to 1,800 in 2020.

The Ministry is encouraging parents already living in the Takanini and Papakura area, or thinking of moving there, to take part in public consultation to be run early next year.

There will be well publicised opportunities for gaining information and for providing comment, including public meetings, school meetings, written material and a website.

“This will be an opportunity for people to tell us how they think the education needs of their children can best be met,” Ms Radford said.

“They will be helping the Ministry develop what is known as an ‘area strategy’ for Takanini.”

A reference group representing local schools and community groups will be formed to guide the consultation process. This month and next the Ministry will be making initial contacts will people who could be on the reference group.

As the area strategy unfolds the Ministry will work closely with the Papakura District Council to ensure that all development complements the Council’s plans for addressing growth.

ENDS