Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education

8 May 2008 Media Statement
EMBARGOED MIDDAY

Multi-million dollar investment in Porirua College

The $18.5 million project to rebuild Porirua College will see the school designed so that it can meet the changing role of a secondary school in the 21st Century, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Education Minister Chris Carter announced today.

Helen Clark and Chris Carter visited the school today to announce the government’s commitment of $18.521 million to the new design. The funding will provide the school with modern and flexible learning spaces which cater for students undertaking a wide range of education options, as promoted under the Schools Plus initiative.

“The Porirua community is working hard to lift educational achievement for its young people,” Helen Clark said.

“That work will now be supported through state-of-the-art buildings to create a 21st Century learning environment.”

The rebuild will not only help the college cater for an increasing school roll but also incorporate new design features which help schools adapt to their students remaining connected to education for longer.

“Under the Government’s Schools Plus initiative, students will remain in education or some form of training until the age of eighteen. That means a wider range of learning areas need to be a feature of modern secondary schooling,” Helen Clark said.

“Leading-edge sustainability features, a “house” structure where students from different Year levels work together, and inbuilt Information Communications Technology are a key part of the project,” Chris Carter said.

“A performing arts centre, a library, an extended gymnasium, and new administration areas are also included.

“Porirua business and political leaders, community organisations, and the Porirua community at large take a keen interest in their secondary schools. They know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a real difference to Porirua,” Chris Carter said.

“Staff at the school are keen to think about the way learning is delivered to students. This is not just about a new set of buildings. It’s about development of all facets of the college and its role.

“The rebuild will mean new areas where alternative teaching practice is carried out and where buildings are designed for a wide range of activities.

“The first part of the upgrade project will be the completion of an area designed to facilitate student-centred learning. This will be used as a pilot so Ministry of Education researchers can study how new buildings support shifts in teaching practice.

“All building, site and landscaping work in the Porirua College project is set to be complete for the 2011 school year,” Chris Carter said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media