The vast majority of schools in the Australian Capital Territory are preparing to welcome all students back on Monday, November 24, 2025, following a significant week-long clean-up operation to address contaminated sand. This marks a major step forward after the discovery of asbestos-containing material prompted widespread closures across the territory.
Progress in School Reopenings
From a peak of 70 schools forced to close at the start of the week, the situation has dramatically improved. As of Friday, November 21, only two schools will remain fully closed come Monday: Malkara School and Neville Bonner Primary School. Education authorities have confirmed that students in affected areas have been relocated to safe spaces within their schools, such as libraries, to ensure continuity of learning.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry has emphasised that child safety remains the government's number one priority. While significant progress has been made, Minister Berry has cautioned parents that more sand might be discovered in schools already cleared to open. She assured the public that any new findings would be promptly dealt with and removed.
Detailed Status of ACT Schools
The ACT government's education and training website provides a detailed breakdown of school statuses. A large number of schools have now been fully cleared by licensed asbestos assessors and are open to all students. These include Aranda Primary School, Campbell Primary School, and Harrison School, among many others.
Another group of schools is operating fully but with sand isolated in securely closed-off areas. These institutions, such as Alfred Deakin High School and Caroline Chisholm School, continue to function normally while managing the contained material.
A small number of schools are operating on a partially open basis. Margaret Hendry School is only open to students in years 3, 4, 5, and 6, while Torrens Primary School is only open to year 2, year 3, and year 5 cohorts.
Ongoing Communication and Broader Impact
To keep parents informed, Education Minister Yvette Berry will provide further updates at 6pm on Friday, November 21, and again on Sunday, November 23. This comes amid some parent concerns regarding communication from the education directorate, with one school having been closed for a second time.
The issue has extended beyond the education sector. A Canberra Health Services spokesperson confirmed that sand was also identified in several health facilities, including Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital. All affected sand products have been removed and disposed of in line with WorkSafe advice, and no health service sites were forced to close.
The government has not yet finalised the cost of the extensive clean-up effort. Non-government schools in the region have also been managing the situation, with many isolating and removing sand while remaining operational.
