United Voice News
Exposed: Our dirty state schools
Victorian students are often forced to learn in dirty, unhygienic schools, with their health and safety put at risk by a cleaning system that is failing them, a new report released today finds.
Cleaners get as little as seven minutes to clean classrooms while some have to use the same mops in toilets and sanitary areas because of cost-cutting by contractors, surveys with cleaners at 110 Victorian state schools find.
School cleaners are calling on the Brumby government to reverse nearly two decades of disastrous neglect and allow schools to directly employ cleaners.
“In 1992, Jeff Kennett sent cleaning standards in Victorian schools down the toilet when he created these dysfunctional school cleaning contracts,” said Jess Walsh, Victorian secretary of LHMU, the Cleaners Union.
“These contracts left our schools dirty, forcing students to learn in classrooms that are an asthma risk because they are not vacuumed regularly, and on desks that are not cleaned often enough.”
“This report shows our schools are still dirty. Cleaners simply don’t get enough time clean schools properly, because of these failed cleaning contracts,” Walsh said.
“Cleaners have been forced to use the same mops in toilets and sanitary areas, because of cost-cutting by contractors.”
“One third of all school cleaners say they don’t get enough time to clean properly.”
“Many cleaners work in dangerous conditions and are being ripped off by contractors, who underpay them or force them to work for free.”
“There’s a thriving black economy with reports of international students cleaning our state schools for cash.”
“Student safety is also a major concern: one in ten cleaners surveyed do not have Working with Children Checks.”
“This dysfunctional system is placing a huge burden on school principals, who are forced to waste time monitoring their cleaning contractors when they want to be focussed on education.”
In a race to offer cheaper deals to our cash-strapped schools, cleaning times have been savagely cut and schools left dirty as contractors cut costs – and corners.
Efforts by Premier Steve Bracks to reform this dysfunctional system in 2005 have failed, the report finds.
When WA returned to direct employment in 2005 it quickly led to cleaner schools and a more productive and a fairer work environment, the report reveals.
Modelling also shows direct employment would be a cost effective solution for Victorian schools.
“There is not much point in building new classrooms if they are not being cleaned and maintained,” Walsh said.
“Students are still learning in a dirty and degraded environment. And over time the assets will just deteriorate. It’s time Labor cleaned up this mess.”
“Our students, teachers and cleaners need real leadership and a real solution now.”
