Education officials have established a roll growth management project to deal with unpredicted roll growth in Auckland schools.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said rolls were 5-10% higher than projected with more than 2000 extra students than expected.

“This is due to a combination of circumstances in the Auckland environment which has resulted in movement into and within Auckland,” Trevor Mallard said.

“In addition to the natural population increases attendant on the ‘echo baby boom’, it is likely to have included decreased emigration; increased immigration; NZ families returning home due to international political uncertainties; families relocating from elsewhere in NZ, often for employment reasons; families moving within greater Auckland, as result of increased apartment building and subdivision; and the greater retention of pupils in senior classes.

“There will be need for an extra 7000 places for school children throughout New Zealand instead of the previously predicted 1300 from net migration as a result of New Zealanders not emigrating and returning home, as well as some extra immigration.

“It’s an exceptional mix of issues and the Ministry of Education is working closely with schools to alleviate the immediate resourcing and classroom accommodation issues. It is likely to mean an additional 100 classrooms across Auckland. The aim is to have these in place by the end of the first term.

“The schools also gain entitlement to extra teachers which is being considered in light of teacher supply support already in place. Secondary teacher supply is still tight but it is pleasing to note that listed vacancies in the next education gazette to be published tomorrow are down to 141 from 239 two weeks ago.

“Two new secondary schools will commence construction in Auckland this year and three more are on the drawing board – providing good long term solutions in pressure areas.

“In the meantime, schools and officials are working hard to ensure that the short term problems are addressed without adversely affecting the standard of education available to students at the schools,” Trevor Mallard said.

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