The British government has launched a national inquiry to assess the safety of school buildings due to the partial collapse of three schools over the summer, which were found to have been built using less durable concrete used between the 1950s and 1990s rather than safer reinforced concrete. do for 30 years.
According to the Council of Ministers, the survey shows that the number of schools with dangerous construction may reach hundreds, but the vast majority of schools were not built with the weakest concrete, so they are not affected by the closures.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
I realize the timing is frustrating, but I want to give you an idea of what we’re up against. There are approximately 22,000 schools in England and, importantly, it is expected that 95 percent of schools will not be affected by this situation.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told lawmakers there were 156 schools on the “critical buildings” list.
In addition, Keegan ran into unexpected trouble when, after a television interview, he cursed his critics into a microphone he had accidentally left behind. The minister had to apologize separately for his tone.
According to critics, the government should take full responsibility for the situation as Sunak, in his capacity as finance minister, has halved the number of schools to be renovated in 2021. Describing this claim as false, Sunak stated that previous governments also provided support for the renovation of 50 schools. annually.
Schools that have been ordered to temporarily close in whole or in part are now finding classes at nearby institutions for their students or switching to online education to start classes.
Cover image source: Getty Images
