news, education,
The ACT opposition education spokesman has accused the Education Directorate of hiding the extent of issues with lead contamination and asbestos in schools. It follows the revelation that ten more sites across nine school have found lead dust above acceptable levels since the beginning of this year. Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson said he was concerned that information on hazardous materials in schools was only being released through freedom of information requests and repeated media questions. “The more I’m seeing the extent of the problem, there’s a bit of incompetence but also deliberate hiding information from the community going on,” Mr Hanson said. “We’ve reached a point now where I don’t trust the directorate or minister to provide information.” Mr Hanson said the directorate should have given information to parents about the recent lead dust discoveries in a similar way to when Richardson Primary School sent home a letter when dust was discovered in a plant room and ducting. He said he was not confident that hazard management plans in school offices were accurate and up-to-date. READ MORE: When the ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry was asked whether the directorate had been covering up the extent of hazardous materials, a government spokeswoman said the directorate had been open and transparent with school communities. “The Education Directorate is developing new communication protocols for when school communities will be advised of the results of lead paint testing and related works,” the spokeswoman said. “Within the coming months, the Education Directorate will make more information available to school communities about the hazardous materials through their school’s website. “Detailed information on the nature of hazardous materials management at each school, including on lead dust assessments and remediation approaches, will continue to be available to each school community through their front office.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/33pRA5ArzT57tWtt8VHHenS/28fb3ee0-2d4b-4cfe-97e6-0f8f59a65ac2.jpg/r18_949_6266_4479_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The ACT opposition education spokesman has accused the Education Directorate of hiding the extent of issues with lead contamination and asbestos in schools.
It follows the revelation that ten more sites across nine school have found lead dust above acceptable levels since the beginning of this year.
Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson said he was concerned that information on hazardous materials in schools was only being released through freedom of information requests and repeated media questions.
“The more I’m seeing the extent of the problem, there’s a bit of incompetence but also deliberate hiding information from the community going on,” Mr Hanson said.
“We’ve reached a point now where I don’t trust the directorate or minister to provide information.”
Mr Hanson said the directorate should have given information to parents about the recent lead dust discoveries in a similar way to when Richardson Primary School sent home a letter when dust was discovered in a plant room and ducting.
He said he was not confident that hazard management plans in school offices were accurate and up-to-date.
When the ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry was asked whether the directorate had been covering up the extent of hazardous materials, a government spokeswoman said the directorate had been open and transparent with school communities.
“The Education Directorate is developing new communication protocols for when school communities will be advised of the results of lead paint testing and related works,” the spokeswoman said.
“Within the coming months, the Education Directorate will make more information available to school communities about the hazardous materials through their school’s website.
“Detailed information on the nature of hazardous materials management at each school, including on lead dust assessments and remediation approaches, will continue to be available to each school community through their front office.”
Opposition education spokesman Jeremy Hanson said the government has been hiding information about hazardous materials in schools. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
