In a harrowing revelation that has sent shockwaves through the United Kingdom’s education sector, the government has undertaken to leave no stone unturned in safeguarding the safety of pupils, as numerous schools grapple with the precarious state of buildings constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) – a perilous material susceptible to structural failure.
An alarming 104 schools and colleges, bearing the ominous legacy of RAAC in their infrastructure, have been sternly instructed not to reopen their doors for the upcoming academic term. This alarming development underscores a burgeoning scandal that has been festering for years.
In an unsettling twist, over 50 additional educational institutions have already been compelled to implement “mitigations” this year due to the insidious presence of RAAC within their premises. Structural experts have sounded a grave warning, suggesting that RAAC may have infiltrated numerous other sites, including hospitals, courts, and some public housing, potentially mandating their closure for extensive remedial endeavors.
RAAC, characterized as a cost-effective, lightweight variant of concrete, pervasively infiltrated British construction projects from the 1950s until the mid-1990s. Concerns about its inherent risk of catastrophic failure first surfaced in 2018, notably following the abrupt and unanticipated collapse of a primary school roof in Kent, southeastern England.
Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, grappling with the public outcry and the imminent return of millions of pupils to school after the summer break, assured the nation that the government is poised to take decisive action to avert potential calamities. Hunt declared, “We will do what it takes to make sure that children are safe,” pledging that budgetary allocation would be prioritized to rectify the issue where necessary. A comprehensive nationwide survey targeting every school in the country has been initiated to pinpoint the presence of RAAC.
As apprehensions mount, reports have surfaced suggesting that asbestos could be exposed within the affected schools due to the deteriorating concrete, potentially necessitating prolonged closures lasting months.
Concurrently, the Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK organization has sounded persistent warnings, highlighting the ubiquity of RAAC planks in diverse British edifices. These planks, deemed to have a “useful life” of approximately 30 years, continue to pose a formidable challenge to safety and structural integrity.
Education officials, public sector unions, and opposition parties have united in their criticism of the government’s handling of this critical issue, particularly chastising the abrupt notices served to affected schools on the cusp of the new term.
“I am extremely disappointed and frustrated that there was not a plan in place for this happening,” remarked England’s Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza. She added, “There should have been planning in place and a really good school building program that has addressed this over the years.”
AFP
