Education Secretary Gillian Keegan ‘opening Pandora’s box’ by unilaterally deciding to shut schools amid concrete crisis
EDUCATION Secretary Gillian Keegan was accused of “opening a Pandora’s box” by unilaterally deciding to shut school buildings.
Sources said her ultra-cautious approach could set a precedent and see the closure of many other public places containing crumbling concrete.
It came as the list of 147 schools facing disruption because of dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was finally published yesterday.
Around 3,000 pupils at four of them are in total lockdown-style remote learning because of the crisis.
Another 20 schools have imposed hybrid arrangements with a mix of in-person and home teaching.
Nineteen have delayed the start of the school year altogether after receiving last-minute orders from ministers.
The initial tranche of 156 schools told to make Raac mitigations was cut after nine were later found to be safe.
But Downing Street admitted the number would grow again as more education officials return their building surveys.
Under-fire Ms 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.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer put the boot into PM Rishi Sunak at a fiery PMQs yesterday and accused him of slashing repair funding.
He blasted: “It’s the sort of thing you expect from cowboy builders.
“The difference is in this case the cowboys are running the country.”
Some of Ms Keegan’s government colleagues were nervous that her crackdown could lead to mass closures.
One source said last night: “Some believe she’s opened a Pandora’s box here.”
Mr Sunak, meanwhile, said he made “no apologies” for taking a cautious approach to keep children safe.
His spokesman said: “The way the Department for Education is approaching Raac will not be uniform to all departments and indeed public bodies as well.”