Huge bill to shorten class doors

MORE than £300,000 will be spent slicing off the bottom of thousands of classroom doors in a bid to improve ventilation and limit the spread of Covid-19.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville revealed 2,000 doors could be ‘undercut to increase airflow’ amid concerns over ventilation in Scotland’s schools.

Other measures could also be introduced with Miss Somerville admitting to ‘problematic’ carbon dioxide levels in up to 4 per cent of schools and nurseries.

In a letter to MSPs, Mrs Somerville set out three potential ‘remedial measures’ for impacted classrooms – including air filters and extractor fans.

But, she added: ‘We have assumed the door in the example space will need to be undercut to increase airflow, at £150, in line with business ventilation fund guidance.’

A total of £4.3million has been set aside by the Scottish Government for remedial actions, but Mrs Somerville has warned that the costs could ‘vary significantly’ school by school.

Last night plans to ‘chop up classroom doors’ were branded an ‘insult’ with ministers urged to find more appropriate solutions for ventilation issues in schools.

Scottish Conservative children and young people spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: ‘If this issue wasn’t so serious, you’d be hard pressed not to laugh at this crackpot SNP proposal. Teachers, parents and pupils know that the only solution to this issue is for the SNP to invest in proper, effective ventilation systems.’

Scottish Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie said: ‘Rather than putting an air filter in every classroom, the Education Secretary’s solution is sending a handyman round to chop up classroom doors.

‘We are two years into the pandemic and three terms into this school year but only now has the Scottish Government admitted there is a problem in thousands of classrooms. Yet this could only be the tip of the iceberg.’

Mr Rennie said ‘opening windows in winter and chopping up doors’ was an ‘insult to thousands of teachers and pupils’ as he urged ministers to find a better solution to ventilation issues.

Speaking to journalists yesterday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the former Lib Dem leader should ‘educate himself’ on the issue. She said: ‘Having adequate spaces under doors is an important way of improving airflow.’