Otago Primary Principals’ Association president Shelley Wilde said a survey of about 20 primary schools found about half had similar numbers of children attending compared with last week.
The other half, however, had experienced a slight rise of between one and five pupils returning to school this week.
"The most common reason for this increase is parents returning to work or finding work," she said.
"Principals continue to admire the work of their staff as they provide flexible, engaging and creative distance learning options, and of parents, caregivers and whanau as they support the Alert Level 3 guideline of staying at home if at all possible."
Otago Secondary Principals’ Association president Linda Miller said the situation was similar in the region’s secondary schools.
However, Southland Secondary Principals’ Association president Jarlath Kelly said there had been no change to Southland’s secondary rolls from last week.
About half of Southland’s secondary schools remained empty, he said.
"I think people are comfortable with doing their work online from home rather than online from school; and secondly, due to some of the messaging out there from the Government and the police, people are nervous about sending their kids back to school."
Southland Primary Principals’ Association president Wendy Ryan said Southland primary school rolls also remained stable.
While some pupils had made their first return to school this week, some of those who returned last week had stopped coming to class.
She said it was because many parents were returning to work this week, but many parents who did return to work last week had taken leave this week.
So the rolls remained stable, and only about 6% of pupils were back at primary schools around Southland.
"It’s very light. Particularly at country schools. A lot of country schools haven’t opened yet.
"Generally, parents have been very kind to us and kept their kids at home, which has made it very easy for us to manage things here."
