Christchurch schools back in business

Redcliffe School, centre, following February's earthquake. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Education is back on track in Christchurch with the majority of classes reopening - albeit some are in slightly unusual locations.

The number of Christchurch students temporarily enrolled in schools outside the city dropped this week for the first time since thousands of families fled the area after last month's devastating earthquake.

Many families are now slowly returning to the city as early childhood centres, schools and universities reopen their doors.

Lincoln University is now fully operational again, while the University of Canterbury enters its second week of progressively reopening classes - even though some lessons are taking place in tents while damaged lecture theatres are repaired.

More than 150 schools have also reopened, a figure that is expected to reach 157 - or 97 per cent of the city's schools - by midweek.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said schools were doing a magnificent job of making sure students could return to learning, either at their own school or sharing a site with another school.

"I'm also pleased to say that for the first time since the earthquake, the number of Christchurch students enrolled around the country has started to fall."

Last week about 7500 students had re-enrolled at a school outside of Christchurch but Mrs Tolley said that figure was now starting to drop with more than 600 of those students returning to their original school this week.

While she expects that trend to continue, 874 Christchurch students remain enrolled at Auckland schools, slightly more than last week and higher than at any time since the quake.

Early childhood services are also starting to get back to normal with 270 - or 76 per cent of Christchurch's centres - reopening this week.

In order to help the financial stability of those centres, Mrs Tolley has decided to extended emergency funding which will allow them to continue receiving money for children who have temporarily moved away.

"If children are enrolled at another service in the interim, then funding will also be given to the new service," she said.

Canterbury University is also offering to help its students by providing a one-off $500 grant as compensation for the "impaired experience due to the disruptions caused by the earthquake". The grant, which is $250 for part-time students, is not a refund of tuition fees or student services levy but a payment that, according to the university's website, reflects "the degradation in the facilities arising from damage to buildings caused by the earthquake".

While many courses reopen this week, updated information, including what classes have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the earthquake, is available on the university's website.

WHAT'S OPEN

* ECE centres - 76 per cent open.

* Schools - 97 per cent open by midweek.

* University of Canterbury - 2nd stage of reopening classes started this week.

* Lincoln University - Fully operational. Most students back last week. English language students this week.