Mass School Closures Continue Across Canberra
The ACT education crisis continues as 70 public schools faced closures on Monday following the discovery of asbestos in decorative sand products used in educational settings. ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry has confirmed the updated situation for Tuesday, November 18, with significant changes to the closure list.
The initial closure of 16 schools on Friday, November 14, expanded dramatically over the weekend after a recall of coloured decorative sand sold at Kmart. The situation escalated further on Monday when The Woden School closed mid-morning, bringing the total affected institutions to 70.
Tuesday's School Status Breakdown
According to the latest update from the ACT government, 51 schools will operate normally on Tuesday, though 42 of these will have relocated classes and some closed rooms due to ongoing safety concerns.
The distribution of affected schools shows 25 institutions will remain completely closed, while 16 schools will partially open with specific cohort restrictions. Education authorities have worked through Monday to assess each facility and determine safe operating conditions.
Complete List of School Closures
The following schools will remain closed on Tuesday, November 18:
- Aranda Primary School
- Black Mountain School
- Campbell Primary School
- Cranleigh School
- Evatt Primary School
- Evelyn Scott School
- Florey Primary School
- Forrest Primary School
- Gowrie Primary School
- Gordon Primary School
- Isabella Plains Early Childhood School
- Latham Primary School
- Macgregor Primary School
- Macquarie Primary School
- Maribyrnong Primary School
- Miles Franklin Primary School
- Malkara School
- Mount Rogers Primary School
- Neville Bonner Primary School
- Ngunnawal Primary School
- Southern Cross Early Childhood School
- The Woden School
- Wanniassa School
- Weetangera Primary School
- Yarralumla Primary School
Schools Operating with Restrictions
Several institutions will operate with limited capacity, welcoming only specific year groups while maintaining safety protocols. The partial opening list includes Arawang Primary School, which will accommodate Echidna Preschool students and Years K-6, though Turtle Preschool students cannot be accommodated at this time.
Other partially open schools include Chapman Primary School (Years 2,4,5,6 only), Charles Weston Primary School (Preschool, Kindergarten, Years 5-6), and Harrison School (Years 7-10 and Senior Small Group Program). Each school has published specific cohort information for parents to review.
Fully Operational Schools
Many Canberra schools will operate normally on Tuesday, though parents should note that some may have closed rooms or relocated classes as precautionary measures. The open schools list includes Ainslie School, Alfred Deakin High School, Amaroo School, and numerous other primary and secondary institutions across the territory.
Several schools identified as having no contaminated sand will operate without restrictions, including Aunty Agnes Shea High School, Belconnen High School, Charles Conder Primary School, and Dickson College.
Non-Government School Response
While public schools faced widespread disruptions, non-government schools and most institutions in other states have remained open despite finding similar sand products. The Canberra Catholic education office confirmed that a small number of classrooms and breakout spaces have been isolated pending cleaning and assessment.
The Catholic school system is following WorkSafe ACT advice to isolate the substance while maintaining normal operations in unaffected areas. School authorities have emphasized that the risk of asbestos exposure remains low, and clinical assessment is not recommended for individuals who had contact with the sand.
The Birrigai Outdoor School continues to operate normally for excursions, though flexible education programs remain closed during the safety review process.
Ongoing Safety Assessment
The chrysotile asbestos detected in the decorative sand products prompted the extensive school closures as a precautionary measure. Education authorities continue working with health and safety experts to ensure all facilities meet safety standards before full operations resume.
Parents are encouraged to check the ACT Education Directorate website for the latest updates and specific information about their children's schools as the situation continues to evolve throughout the week.
