Echo commentary on the ongoing RAAC crisis in our schools

It’s truly shocking that Ferryhill has classes of 100 students – how can this be a good learning environment?

It is shocking that St Leonard’s School in Durham may not fully reopen until 2026 – that’s halfway through a secondary school career for some children who have already endured the academic upheaval of the Covid pandemic.

We hear that elementary school children are bused to safe schools every day; We hear that students have missed so much education that they have to work during the holidays.

And it continues to be noted that more and more schools are equipped with aerated concrete – a further 43 were added to the total, bringing the number nationwide to 214 yesterday.

We can argue all we want about which party canceled which school reconstruction program, but that is a thing of the past. The current truth is that some children’s education is being significantly impacted, and this is shocking, more than six weeks into the crisis.

The government may regret that this crisis, which dates back to the 1950s, occurred on its watch, but this can be judged by the way it responds to it. Education Minister Gillian Keegan says the government will do “whatever it takes” to minimize disruption. So she must realize that she must do much more than allow classes with 100 students to continue, otherwise she will be accused of failing our children.

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