The Prime Minister has been accused of having “ducked responsibility” over the government’s handling over the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RACC) which are prone-to collapse in schools.
The Department for Education (DfE) has now published the long-awaited list of a total of 147 education settings in England.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Rishi Sunak and other Tory Ministers over the “time taken to publish the list” of schools which are affected.
More than 100 schools were ordered to immediately close or partially shut over safety fears for children workers within the educational establishments.
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The DfE has suggested that 19 schools were delayed at the start of the autumn term due to the concrete crisis and 24 schools will receive some remote learning for their pupils, with four schools being forced to do this full time.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “I know this is the last way parents, teachers and children affected by this wanted to begin the new term, but it will always be my priority to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.
“Thanks to the hard work of schools, colleges, councils, diocese and academy trusts, the majority of settings where Raac has been confirmed have opened to all pupils for the start of term.
“We will continue to support all impacted settings in whatever way we can, whether that’s through our team of dedicated caseworkers or through capital funding to put mitigations in place.
“We are also expediting surveys and urging all responsible bodies to tell us what they know about Raac, so we can be confident that settings are safe and supported.”
The Prime Minister said that the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme, was scrapped by the coalition government.
He added that this would have been “time-consuming and expensive, just like the Labour Party.
Sunak then defended the Government’s handling of RACC and said, “We make no apology for acting decisively in the face of new information… Of the 22,000 schools in England the vast, vast majority won’t be affected.”
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson criticised the government over their time it has taken to publish the list of schools affected across England.
She said, “Sunak and his Conservative ministers have ducked responsibility and blamed everyone but themselves for this fiasco.
“Families deserve to know the truth instead of this endless smoke and mirrors.”
