“The SNP ignored calls to make schools submit buildings reports as part of school inspections,” claims local Conservative candidate Jamie Greene.
It comes as 17 schools across Edinburgh, built under the PFI scheme, have been forced to close amid safety fears. Mr Greene said that his party asked three times over the last two years for schools to prove their buildings were up to scratch, as well as the quality of education provided. As education is one of the key issues being debated in this year’s Scottish elections, the heat is on the Scottish Government as many kids will not be returning to school today after the Easter break.
In June 2014, young people spokeswoman Liz Smith asked the Scottish Government to review the remit of Education Scotland to "include the condition of school" buildings, pointing out Audit Scotland had concern for around 18 per cent of the school estate. But minister for learning, Alasdair Allan, said it was up to local authorities to check the safety of buildings.
Six months later, Ms Smith again raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament, but Mr Allan responded with a similar answer. Then, in May 2015, she asked again, only to be told: "Those issues have been raised in the past. Nonetheless, the assessment of the condition of school buildings remains a matter for local authorities."
Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said:
"I raised this issue in parliament two years ago on account of the concerns raised by parents and by some local authorities. I did so for two reasons. Firstly, it is vitally important that our schools are safe – something every parent and teacher quite rightly expects. But secondly because there is strong evidence that the quality of learning improves when buildings and the surrounding campus provide a secure, modern learning environment.
"At the time, the Scottish Government paid lip service to my proposal, but in the intervening time it has washed its hands of it. Now, following the very serious issue which has emerged in Edinburgh, the SNP must have an urgent change of mind. The educational future of pupils is at stake."
Local Conservative candidate Jamie Greene, added:
"It's unprecedented to have this many schools closing down at once, and shows just how serious this situation is. We made perfectly reasonably suggestions some time ago about how this could be prevented, but the SNP did nothing. Now councils are being forced to hastily close the school gates when many pupils are preparing to sit potentially life-changing exams. The SNP must explain why it ignored our calls, and say what it plans to do to stop this sort of thing happening in future."