Prefab shortage forces schools to turn PE halls into classrooms
SCHOOLS are being forced to covert ‘poorly ventilated’ PE halls to classrooms due to a shortage of available prefabs.
With just a week to go before pupils return, schools are struggling to implement safe social distancing in classrooms due to lack of space.
A solution to this issue would be to buy or lease prefabs, but many companies that supply modular accommodation are completely out of stock.
Ann Piggott, president of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, told the Irish Daily Mail some schools are now considering using mobile homes or log cabins as isolation areas for students due to space issues on campuses. ‘The need for more classrooms and additional space is an issue that I’m constantly hearing, but, unfortunately, there are limitations in what schools can do,’ she said.
‘Since prefabs are so expensive and not available to buy any more, some schools want to build mobile homes and even cabins as an alternative.
‘However, the problem with this proposal is the time it’ll take getting planning permission and fire safety certs for these structures.’
She continued: ‘Some schools don’t even have room outside to spare, which is why so many are converting their halls or assembly rooms into classrooms. Others have come up with very ingenious ideas to create space like attaching awnings to their building so food can be served outside.’
Michael Horan, principal of St Brendan’s National School in Mallow, Co. Cork, said that they had no choice but to sacrifice their PE hall as a means to create two additional classrooms.
‘We’re going to have to partition the hall which is quite sad as there will be no place for the children to do PE indoors,’ he said.
‘We’ve been waiting on an extension for over 18 months now but, unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be delivered any time soon.
‘Using school halls or large open spaces may seem like a good solution, but these areas are often poorly ventilated and very difficult to heat during winter. I think the Department [of Education] should start ordering a huge amount of prefabs to distribute around the country because this virus isn’t going anywhere soon.’
Mr Horan added that many schools are also struggling to source new furniture, such as single desks. ‘These manufacturing companies that supply school furniture are completely gutted. The Government should have asked them in May to stock up since there would be new guidelines and procedures around social distancing,’ he said. ‘Now schools are outbidding one another for things like single tables and chairs, while others will have to do without them until well into the new term.’
Meanwhile, issues regarding the availability of substitute teachers have become an increasing concern as the new term draws nearer.
The Department of Education said last month that it was looking into hiring panels of substitute teachers on a full-time basis or sharing them between schools.
The Irish Primary Principals Network estimated at the time that 300 full-time substitute teachers will be needed to provide cover.
However, Peter McCabe, former principal of St Columbanus National School in Loughlinstown, south Co. Dublin, said that in some areas just three substitutes are allocated to an entire town.
‘The Teaching Council agreed to register as many teachers as possible but, in reality, it’s just never enough,’ he said.
Mr McCabe added: ‘In one school in Bray [in Co. Wicklow], just three new teachers are available to them who are also needed across 16 other schools.’
Mr Horan echoed these sentiments, saying that the town of Mallow was supplied with just
‘It’s just never enough’
three substitute teachers across more than 20 primary schools.
‘It’s a farce: the nearest supply panel to us is about 25 minutes away,’ he said.
‘Places outside these urban centres aren’t going to have use of these subs at all. The couple of teachers hired in Mallow will be kept there and schools like ours will be left without them.’
And Mr Horan warned: ‘This will be a major problem come September. Last year, we could not get a substitute at all and I predict it’s going to be just as hard in the new term.’