|
|||||
| Return to 2005 News Releases | |||||
|
|
News
Release |
||||
|
Minister refuses to commit to a healthy
schools review
|
|||||
|
Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of Port de Grave, Roland Butler, is shocked the education minister is still refusing to commit to a comprehensive review of mould, air quality and general maintenance problems in all provincial schools. "In the last month we have had several schools around this province close because of air quality and other maintenance problems,@says Butler. AParents and students have a right to know if their schools are healthy and safe to attend. The ultimate responsibility to provide safe and healthy schools rests with the minister of education. Yet, we have situations this year where, only after extreme actions by parents, the problems were dealt with properly. The only way to restore confidence in the safety of schools in the province is to conduct a comprehensive review and make it public.@ In response to questioning by Butler on this issue in the House of Assembly earlier this week, the minister claimed to already know where the problems were. She also indicated she would rather spend money to address these problems, rather than carrying out a comprehensive review. "First of all, I would like the list of problems she acknowledges exists to be made public. Parents and students around this province also need to know exactly the health status of their schools. It would also be important to know how this list was compiled and how the problems were prioritized for action. I am very concerned that some of the serious issues could possibly be overlooked if the review and prioritization did not include a proper air quality assessment." The Liberal MHA says he is also disappointed at the political approach taken by the minister with respect to this very critical health and learning issue. "This government is in the fourth year of its mandate. It is time they accepted some responsibility for the significant problems which exist in this province. The time has long passed when they can blame everything on the previous administration. Providing safe schools for all our children to attend is a serious responsibility. The minister should be more focussed on addressing people=s anxiety and finding timely solutions, rather than going into blame mode and trying to score political points."
|
|||||
|
Media Contact: |
|||||
