Dwindling school rolls in Christchurch could mean more than 300 teachers lose their jobs at the end of the year.
Continuing aftershocks in Christchurch are leading families to leave the region. Figures released by the Ministry of Education showed that 4,496 pupils had moved to new schools since the February 22 earthquake.
Canterbury Primary Principals' Association president John Bangma said that the drastic reduction in enrolment could cost up to 350 teachers their jobs.
Principals in the region have called on the Government to continue to fund schools at pre-earthquake levels, but Education Minister Anne Tolley says that is not possible.
Ms Tolley says that the drop in roll numbers would not effect funding this year, but that next year funding would have to be reduced to reflect schools’ enrolment numbers as at July 1.
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