Asbestos scare keeps WA school closed
Western Australia's largest government high school will remain closed for the rest of the week due to an asbestos scare.
Asbestos residue was found on Monday during the inspection of a building due for demolition at Willetton Senior High School.
Parents were told of the closure via text message on the eve of the students' return from holidays.
But the message did not get through to some children, who turned up on Tuesday for the new term.
Education Department schools deputy director-general David Axworthy said the school was closed as a precaution and test results would take 24 hours to come back.
Arrangements are being made for students, particularly those in year 12, to continue their studies online this week.
"We've moved the staff members into another site and they'll be able to connect directly with the families and with the individual students to maintain and monitor educational programs and assignments and everything," Mr Axworthy told reporters.
Teachers raised the alarm on Monday and Mr Axworthy said he did not know why those carrying out the school's renovations had not noticed a potential problem earlier.
"There won't be children in the school until we've got a certificate of clean health for every classroom at Willetton," he said.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the buildings should have been inspected earlier in the school break.
"Students have been arriving and journalists have been telling them to go home," Mr McGowan said.
"It's clearly unacceptable, although I can't say the students appeared unhappy."
Willetton Senior High School was built in the 1970s and has more than 1800 students.
