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.
