Teachers taught to clean

Due to a lack of office cleaners and cleaning services, teachers in Scotland now have to clean their own classrooms.

Classrooms are being left untouched, as commercial cleaning from agencies has stopped and teachers are left to pick up the mess.

The problem has occurred due to a shortage of cleaners but it takes longer to fill cleaning jobs because background checks need to be carried out.

Simple tasks like wiping surfaces and vacuuming have been avoided, as the cleaners that are in the schools, struggle to cope with the heavy work load caused by the shortage.

There are presently up to 130 vacancies within the agency contracted to clean council buildings and supply office cleaning services.

As a result, there are worries from parents and local residents over hygiene issues, particularly as swine flu has swept through communities. The situation is so dire, that teachers have even complained to their unions.

A mess that cannot be swept away

Colin Mackay, the Edinburgh branch secretary of the EIS teachers' union, said a number of teachers would take it upon themselves to make sure their classrooms were ready for pupils.

He said: “Anyone who is in a work environment that is below par will do what they can to maintain it.

“There have been a number of schools who have contacted me with concerns about the standard of cleaning that's going on.”

One teacher at a secondary school in the city said staff were constantly complaining about cleaning not being done: “Emptying the bins is always done but they don't get round to vacuuming or things like that.

“Wiping down desks doesn't happen and we do an awful lot of that ourselves. Every class has some kind of disinfectant spray because of swine flu and the cleaners should be using that too but I don't think they are.”

One cleaner commented that they only had time to concentrate on main areas such as PE facilities and toilets. She also stated that the workers have to fork out on overtime because they are unable to get all the labour done during the week.

Craigentinny and Duddingston councillor Ewan Aitken has also received complaints from staff working in schools in his ward.

He said: “I'm being told by teachers at some schools that they have had to clean the classrooms themselves and at times janitors are having to do the cleaning. Once again it's the people on the frontline who are suffering.  

“The cleaners who come in are working very hard but there's just not enough of them. They have been told to do the toilets, so they are not able to do classrooms.”

The city council admitted there was a shortage, but said that there was usually a 5% vacancy rate due to the time it takes to get people started.

City education leader Councillor Marilyne MacLaren said: “The situation is not acceptable and is continuing to worsen.

“Some of our own employees are working overtime to cover these vacancies and we appreciate their commitment to the schools.

“I have been assured that Blue Arrow are working hard to resolve the situation and I look forward to seeing progress."