Nelson school battling high numbers

Nelson's Waimea College might be forced to introduce an enrolment zone next year as its roll is projected to hit nearly 1500 by 2008.

Principal Larry Ching has been meeting Ministry of Education officials about providing extra classrooms to meet the rise in student numbers and said he was told to considering implementing a zone next year.

The college roll is about 1280 and is expected to reach up to 1320 within a year. It has 160 more students than two years ago.

A figure of 1400 or 1450 is expected within two to three years, with 1500 "not likely but not out of the question".

Mr Ching said the college had very few spare classrooms. Those that were available were for specialist subjects.

"Who wants to teach an English class in a science lab?"

He believed the college was entitled to an extra four to six classrooms based on roll projections.

Mr Ching said he had mixed feelings about the introduction of an enrolment scheme.

"It would certainly restrict choices for some but I certainly am not a believer that bigger is necessarily more beautiful."

Ministry of Education Nelson-Marlborough manager John McDuff confirmed the ministry was in talks with the college about implementing an enrolment scheme.

Secondary school rolls were expected to peak in 2007-2008 and that would need to be taken into account.

- NZPA