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NI pupils 'studying in asbestos schools'
15 March 2010
Hundreds of schools buildings in the West Tyrone region of Northern Ireland still contain traces of asbestos, it has been reported.
Documents published by the Western Education and Library Board have revealed traces of the potentially deadly substance have been found in 215 school buildings.
Mark Langhammer, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) Northern Ireland, told the Ulster Herald: "Thousands of teachers, support staff and students […] could be putting themselves at risk every day if their school or college contains asbestos.
"This situation is unacceptable, and ATL calls on the government to stop dithering and change its policy on asbestos in schools and colleges."
The documents also showed 45 primary and 17 secondary institutions in the region contain traces of asbestos variant amosite, considered to be more dangerous than the common form, according to the newspaper.
ATL is a leading union for education professionals, representing the interests of approximately 160,000 members across the UK.