Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is set to announce a commitment to removing deteriorating concrete from all schools and colleges before the upcoming election. Despite the discovery of hazardous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in school buildings across England two years ago, many students are still studying in affected structures.
In 2023, it was disclosed that approximately 100 educational facilities were instructed to close affected buildings immediately unless safety precautions were implemented. Following three roof collapses in 2023, the government allocated funding for the removal of the problematic material. However, the process of eliminating RAAC from schools is still underway.
Phillipson expressed in the Mirror that every child, regardless of location, deserves equal educational opportunities. She highlighted the deteriorating conditions of many schools, emphasizing the urgent need for improvement. She criticized the current state of education under the Conservative Party and pledged that the Labour Party would address these issues.
The Education Secretary outlined the plan to ensure all schools and colleges in England, not undergoing significant reconstruction, will be free of RAAC by the end of the current Parliament term. She also stated that all rebuilding projects will be progressing by then. The goal is to provide students with safe and inspiring learning environments, promoting national renewal through quality educational infrastructure.
Out of approximately 22,000 schools and colleges in England, 237 were identified to have crumbling concrete, with 62 already having the RAAC permanently removed. This demonstrates progress in rectifying the unsafe conditions in educational buildings.