While the majority of schools in Christchurch are reopening this week, pupils from the city are continuing to enrol in southern schools, Ministry of Education figures show.
It has been nearly a month since the earthquake closed all schools in the city, and although 88% of them have reopened this week, statistics collected by the ministry yesterday show the number of pupils from Christchurch enrolling in Dunedin schools had passed the 400 mark.
The number of Christchurch pupils enrolled in Otago schools reached its peak on Wednesday with 1120 pupils.
That number dropped to 1115 yesterday, due to a significant decline in the number of pupils enrolled in the Queenstown-Lakes district.
In the past three weeks, the number of pupils enrolled at schools in the Queenstown Lakes district had risen as high as 385 on March 7.
However, that number has now dropped to 325.
Despite the decrease, rolls in Dunedin and the Clutha district had increased to 404 and 61 respectively.
Enrolments in Waitaki and Central Otago schools had now plateaued.
The number of Christchurch pupils enrolling at schools in other parts of New Zealand was also continuing to increase.
Last week, 5418 Christchurch pupils enrolled elsewhere.
Yesterday, the number had reached 7581.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said there was a time-lag of a few days with the figures, and they showed numbers were now levelling off.
"I would expect this number to start decreasing soon, as more and more schools reopen and families return to Christchurch," she said.
However, Otago Secondary Principals' Association president Julie Anderson said many pupils might not return to Christchurch until the end of the year.
Now that the pupils had settled into their new schools in Otago, some might decide to stay for the rest of the year because it would create stability and consistency, she said.
Mrs Anderson was not surprised numbers were continuing to increase.
She said it might be linked to changing situations in employment, where businesses were collapsing and staff had to be laid off.
It might also be linked to the fact some might not have houses to go back to, they might be traumatised by the continuing tremors, and they might be choosing to stay with close family relatives in Otago who are accommodating them.
Christchurch pupils
Enrolments in Otago-
March 2 total: 849 pupils
March 4 total: 1010 pupils
March 7 total: 1061 pupils
March 16: 1120 pupils
March 17:
Dunedin 404
Queenstown-Lakes District 325
Waitaki District 191
Central Otago District 134
Clutha District 61
OTAGO TOTAL:1115
NZ TOTAL:7581
Source: Ministry of Educationjohn.lewis@odt.co.nz
