The extremely serious issue of asbestos in schools was debated today (Tuesday) at the NUT’s conference in Liverpool, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

“The NUT was the first teachers union to campaign to have asbestos removed from schools and yet despite the problem being brought to the attention of successive governments it is still the case that asbestos remains in most schools.

“The number of teachers dying from the affects of asbestos has increased year on year with a total of 178 teachers dying from mesothelioma since 1980. These figures however, are only the tip of the iceberg as there are no figures for children.

“While the Government’s policy to refurbish or rebuild schools will ensure that some schools are based in an environment that is suitable for teaching and learning, it is imperative that it should be the case for all schools. It is completely unacceptable that pupils and school staff’s lives are put at risk by school buildings.

“This is not an insurmountable problem we know what is causing the deaths and we know what should be done. We are delighted that the Government has agreed to set up a steering group to look at the next steps to tackle the problem, and hope that this will mean we can finally rid schools of this menace, keeping children and teachers safe from asbestos related asbestos disease.

“Schools are a special place because they contain children. It is a gross dereliction of duty to them and other staff that this silent killer is allowed to remain in schools due to a lack of political will”.