Christchurch students to temporarily return to classrooms

Shirley Boys High School was damaged during the February earthquake, but the site is still good enough to temporarily ctaer to students. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Students from Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' high schools will temporarily move back to their schools for up to two years, the Ministry of Education has announced.

Avonside Girls' is currently sharing a site with Burnside High School, while Shirley Boys' students are at Papanui High School.

Education Minister Anne Tolley emphasised the move was only a temporary measure, and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has only agreed to the sites being used for up to two years.

Both schools border "orange zones" - areas where CERA has yet to say whether rebuilding can occur.

"Their return also depends on there being no more adverse events that might affect the safety or viability of these sites," Ms Tolley said.

Students will use a combination of existing useable classrooms and re-locatable classrooms, with Shirley Boys' expected to return to its site later this year, and Avonside Girls' set to return at the start of the 2012 school year.

- HERALD ONLINE