ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Cleaning cutbacks pose a health risk for pupils and staff, according to a Scottish teaching union.

In a survey of more than 600 schools, a total of 80 per cent of respondents said their school had suffered a drop in the frequency or quality of cleaning due to budget cuts in the past three years. And more than 100 said their classrooms were "dirty", "filthy" or "disgusting" while 120 claimed teachers had been forced to take on school cleaning tasks.

Around 138 respondents of the survey, conducted by the Educational Institute of Scotland, raised concerns about health or hygiene standards in schools due to poor cleaning. But they said cleaners were not to blame for the lower standards, pointing the finger instead at the fact that that members of cleaning staff were now given less time to clean each room.

Some said cleaners were working beyond their contracted hours while others claimed whole days would pass without any cleaning being carried out at all. Respondents reported vomit not being cleared up effectively, unpleasant-smelling toilets that were not being cleaned regularly, and bins not being emptied daily.

The survey also revealed that some cleaners had been provided with cheaper, less effective cleaning products - or were told to use plain water for cleaning.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "The results of this survey make for worrying reading. Schools must be properly cleaned on a daily basis to ensure that an appropriate learning and teaching environment for pupils and staff is provided."