Weeklong School Closure Saga Concludes
After a week-long, extensive clean-up operation, all public schools in the Australian Capital Territory have now reopened. The ACT education directorate confirmed that Malkara School, the final institution remaining closed, would welcome students back on Tuesday, November 25.
The widespread closure was triggered by the discovery of decorative sand products containing asbestos in school grounds. This prompted a massive remediation effort across the territory's education system to ensure student and staff safety.
Clean-Up Efforts and Ongoing Precautions
While schools are now operational, the education directorate acknowledged that some sites may still have sand isolated in specific areas, such as closed classrooms or storage cupboards. Officials have assured parents that any remaining remediation work will be scheduled for weekends to minimise disruption to learning.
Education Minister Yvette Berry emphasised that child safety was her number one priority throughout the ordeal. She also warned that more sand might be identified in schools that have already been cleared, but confirmed any new findings would be promptly dealt with and removed.
The government has not yet finalised the cost of the large-scale clean-up effort. The situation caused significant confusion for families, particularly at Malkara School, where a planned reopening on Wednesday, November 19, was abruptly reversed when more sand was discovered, leading to students being sent home.
School Status and Broader Impact
The list of affected schools evolved dramatically throughout the week. What began with 70 schools fully or partially closed on Monday was whittled down to just two by Friday, with Neville Bonner Primary School receiving clearance to open over the weekend, leaving Malkara as the sole closed site.
In schools where sand was found in accessible but sealable spaces, students were relocated to other areas like libraries to allow classes to continue. The incident also extended beyond schools, with Canberra Health Services confirming that sand had been identified and removed from facilities including Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital. No health service sites were forced to close.
The resolution of this week-long saga brings relief to thousands of Canberra families and marks the end of a significant disruption to the territory's education system.
