LONDON (Reuters) – British finance minister Jeremy Hunt has pledged swift action to rectify unsafe school buildings, following the closure of approximately 100 schools due to deteriorating concrete structures.
Last week, schools were instructed to vacate buildings constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), triggering frustration among parents and educators who were caught off guard just days before the new term commenced.
Hunt assured that the majority of the 104 affected schools out of a total of 22,000 across England will be able to function normally.
“We are committed to investing whatever amount is necessary to resolve this issue as rapidly as possible,” Hunt stated during an interview with the BBC.
RAAC, a lighter version of concrete commonly used in constructing walls, floors, and ceilings between the 1960s-80s, is now recognized as considerably weaker than traditional concrete and poses a significant safety hazard.
The perception of deteriorating public infrastructure amplifies pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an anticipated election next year, especially following a period marked by disruptive strikes affecting healthcare, education, and transportation sectors.
“As the concrete crumbles in our schools, the government has idled away the summer,” expressed Bridget Phillipson, the education spokesperson for the opposition Labour Party, on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Angus MacSwan
Credit: The Star : News Feed
