Ministry of Education officials were this morning out
checking Christchurch schools for fresh damage following
yesterday's big aftershocks.
Schools and early childhood education services in the city
closed after the quakes and remained closed today so
management could make preliminary damage assessments.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said she expected to receive
an update at lunchtime, but until then the level of damage
was unclear.
"The ministry's got teams out again today assessing for
structural damage, working with the council on the
infrastructure, so water, sewerage again," she said.
"There will be some schools that are able to open but we want
to make sure that we've gone through the process, and checked
health and safety."
Mrs Tolley said schools were still struggling with the
effects of the February earthquake, with 5500 students still
out of their normal schools.
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