The Ministry of Education says its earthquake standards for school buildings are higher than the legal minimum in the building standards.
The earthquakes in Christchurch have prompted a raft of reviews of the earthquake resistance of school buildings throughout the country.
However two Wellington principals are worried the ministry is not requiring the schools to vacate buildings until they are below 10% of the standard.
Ministry officials have told Wellington East Girls College they initially plan to strengthen its buildings to 34% of the modern building standard, the legal minimum.
A spokesperson for the ministry, Jerome Sheppard, says buildings are assessed by engineers and appropriate advice and information is given to schools on a case-by-case basis.
Mr Sheppard says the priority for the ministry is the health and safety of students.
