Commenting on the announcement by the Prime Minister of a ten
year rebuilding programme for schools, Dr Patrick Roach, General
Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union said:
“The NASUWT has been consistently highlighting the lack of
investment in school buildings in recent years which has left
many schools in a poor state of repair without the modern
facilities they need to best support teaching and learning.
“Additional funding for rebuilding and upgrading school buildings
is vital if schools are to improve opportunity for all and
address the needs of children and young people now and into the
future.
“Whilst further detail is needed on exactly how many schools will
benefit from future additional Government spending, it is also
vital that investment is delivered urgently to those schools in
need to ensure that they can provide a safe environment for
teaching and learning.
“A lesson from the Coronavirus crisis is that it will be critical
that any future investment in school rebuilding is not just about
upgrading, but also making schools more resilient and able to
adapt in the event of any future challenges or crises that may
occur.
“Alongside investment in bricks and mortar, the Government must
also set out urgently its plans for securing the high-speed and
high-quality digital infrastructure that will be key to ensuring
that educational opportunities are fully accessible to every
child and are not dependent on parents’ ability to pay.
“No child should be left behind in their education, wherever they
are learning.”
