![\"Students](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4MUQE7Q_copyright_image_228438.jpeg\")
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\nPrimary schools must open for at least 382 half-days this year and secondaries for 380.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Cole Eastham-Farrelly\n<\/p>\n
Schools can open for the 2026 school year from today through to Monday 9 February.<\/p>\n
Among their number will be two entirely new state schools and a number of new charter schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new state schools would be in Rolleston and Flat Bush where rolls at existing schools had been pushed to the limit by population growth.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, seven new charter schools were expected to open their doors in term 1.<\/p>\n They include an online school, a school based on classical European education, and a specialist sports school.<\/p>\n School rolls have been growing fast in some areas, reaching an all-time July-high of 856,412 nationally last year.<\/p>\n The Education Ministry expected secondary school enrolments would peak this year before declining next year, while primary school rolls should continue a decline that began last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Primary schools begin the year with collective agreements for most of their staff still under negotiation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Though one group of primary principals settled their agreement last year, principals and teachers belonging to the Educational Institute Te Riu Roa rejected government offers at the end of last year and further talks were expected in February.<\/p>\n Primary schools must open for at least 382 half-days this year and secondaries for 380, but they could subtract four half-days as teacher-only days for work on the curriculum.<\/p>\n