Funding for six new teaching spaces at Dunstan High School has been announced by Education Minister Erica Stanford.

The announcement yesterday (Thursday June 19) of $27M investment into new infrastructure will ensure schools meet the needs of their communities and “get ahead of new growth”, the minister said.

The funding will support construction of six new teaching spaces at Dunstan High School and a 12-teaching space expansion at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau.

Erica said the announcement builds on the government’s commitment to ongoing investment in school property, and follows recent announcements to support growth in Canterbury and the Central North Island, and the provision of specialist education.

“Quality education is crucial to growing the regions,” she said. 

Planning for the two projects is underway and is expected to begin in the next 12 months, she said. 

“This means that students, families and the Otago community can benefit sooner.”

South Island Minister James Meager said the new classrooms “are an investment in the future of young learners in Otago Central Lakes”.

"There is huge potential for Otago Central Lakes to become a hub for digital and tech investors, alongside our traditional backbone industries of tourism and agriculture,” he said. 

The education minister said the use of standardised building designs and offsite manufacturing has lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent, allowing 30 percent more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to 2023. 

PHOTO: Supplied