School Safety Crisis: UK Authorities Close Over 150 Buildings Due to Crumbling Concrete

Over 150 schools in the UK are being forced to close their buildings due to the risk of collapsing concrete. The buildings contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), a material prone to crumbling. While most schools can continue with face-to-face learning as the problematic concrete is only found in a small part of the buildings, some schools will have to be temporarily closed. The timing of the closures has been criticized by education officials and unions, who argue that the government should have addressed the issue sooner. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has outlined a plan to minimize the impact on learning and provide support to schools.