The Education Minister has granted some Christchurch schools a slight extension on sweeping changes across the region's education sector.
Hekia Parata will allow an extra four months for the consultation timeframe for schools in the Aranui suburb, where five schools are proposed to merge.
She says due to the complexity of the Aranui proposal, and the fact the creation of a new facility is not proposed until after 2017, she will extend the deadline for submissions until 7 March 2013.
All other schools' submissions on their proposals are due on 7 December.
The Ministry of Education plans to close 13 and merge 18 in the next 10 years.
