Nazareth House closure a ‘travesty’ says Harkin as talks continue over repairs to Derry school

People Before Profit’s Shaun Harkin said: “The closure resulting from an unsafe roof has left hundreds of students at home, with parents scrambling for support with work and other commitments.

"The closure is all the more alarming because the school made a business case to the Education Authority for a new roof in 2017.”

Colr. Harkin was speaking after the school was closed on Wednesday following an investigatory assessment of roofing structures.

The EA has said remedial works have been prioritised to allow the school to reopen as soon as possible.

The ‘Journal’ understands discussions are scheduled for Friday and Monday on improvement works and arrangements for the education of over 200 pupils.

On Thursday the Mayor of Derry Ruairí McHugh received pupils at a reception in the Guildhall, saying ‘their energy and smiles brightened the Mayor’s Office, and it was a real pleasure hearing about their studies and aspirations’.

Mayor McHugh urged the statutory authorities to expedite works at Nazareth House to allow pupils to get back to their desks.

“I urge all relevant Government departments, the Education Authority and Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS) to treat this matter with the utmost urgency. These children deserve to be back in their own school, surrounded by their friends and teachers, and benefiting from stability and routine.

“I hope that an immediate and decisive solution to resolve these health and safety concerns can be reached so that the doors of Nazareth House PS can reopen without further delay,” he said.

Colr. Harkin said: “It's widely acknowledged education here is chronically underfunded - but decision-makers have questions to answer as to what they are prioritising and where.

"General statements from the EA and Education Minister about a deteriorating educational estate don't cut it.

"How could fixing this roof not be viewed as a priority?

"Schools and students can't thrive when they are treated like this.

"I have contacted the EA, the Education Minister and the Department of Education demanding urgent action to ensure the school can reopen as soon as possible and the exact steps to be taken.”

Following the closure the EA said: "We are urgently prioritising remedial works to allow the school to reopen as soon as possible.

"This is unfortunately the latest example of children's education being disrupted due to deterioration in the school estate.

"We are deeply concerned at the growing school maintenance and repair backlog across NI due to lack of funding for the education sector."

The CCMS confirmed the closure was a ‘precautionary measure’ taken ‘to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and staff’.

"The school are working closely with the EA, the DE and the CCMS to assess the situation and to put appropriate interim arrangements in place,” it said.

On Wednesday Nazareth House Róisín Blackery said: “Unfortunately they discovered the roof isn't very safe and as soon as I heard that I asked about the safety of all of our children under the roof.

“We decided the building experts need to do a wee bit more work and bit more checking before we know what is safe for you.”