NUT: School buildings – a ticking time bomb in Wales
Wales’ largest union for qualified teachers says recent concerns about asbestos exposure in Welsh schools highlights the need for investment in school buildings. NUT Cymru says that whilst the 21st Century school investment project is significant, pupils across Wales continue to be taught in dilapidated buildings, not fit for purpose. The union also highlighted that the funding provided for schools in Wales was £2.6bn below original local authority estimates of £4bn needed for the required improvements.
NUT Wales Secretary, David Evans, said:
“The problems with asbestos in schools highlights the substandard environment that many teachers and pupils find themselves in on a daily basis. In almost every community in Wales you will find schools in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. This is having a noticeable and detrimental impact on education services. As shown by recent concerns relating to asbestos exposure in schools, we are not simply talking about poor conditions to work in, but conditions that are putting the health, and even lives, of teachers and pupils at risk.
“This is a ticking time bomb for education in Wales. The Welsh Government is investing £1.4bn in school buildings, which is very welcome. We must also recognise they are in a very difficult financial position having seen the capital budget cut by Westminster. However, whilst recognising those facts, the problem remains that at present, too many teachers, and too many children, are being subjected to working in crumbling, dilapidated and unsatisfactory buildings. Unless there is a long-term commitment to addressing this, we are heading for a serious crisis.”
Contact: Owen Hathway, NUT Cymru, Ty Sinnott, 18 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ. Tel: 029 20491818. Mob: 07921 146 442 e-mail: cymru.wales@nut.org.uk
Owen Hathway
Wales Policy Officer / Swyddog Polisi Cymru
National Union of Teachers
02920 491818 / 07921146442
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