Hundreds pulled from Queensland classrooms due to asbestos scare

Posted by
Check your BMI

Hundreds of primary school students have been pulled out of their classrooms after potenial exposure to asbestos. 

The substance was detected last week in a dozen classrooms in blocks D and E at Rochedale State School, where year two and three students learn. 

9News has been told a teacher noticed dust and raised the alarm.

READ MORE: How to see tonight's lunar eclipse in Australia

Hundreds of primary school students have been pulled out of their classrooms potentially exposed to asbestos. The substance was detected last week in a dozen classrooms in blocks D and E at Rochedale State School where year two and three students learn.

toonsbymoonlight

The students have been temporarily moved to other classrooms, while the impacted rooms have been cleaned and sealant applied to the ceilings.

The students are scheduled to return to the classrooms after the Easter break. 

"My advice from Education Queensland is that everyone at the school is safe," Premier Steven Miles said.

READ MORE: What the weather is going to be like over the Easter long weekend

The substance was detected last week in a dozen classrooms in blocks D and E at Rochedale State School where year two and three students learn.

Some parents who spoke to 9News disagreed.

"What happens if the glue doesn't hold for long and the dust is present again, our kids are breathing it in," one parent said.

Some have petitioned their local member and called for the tiles to be "definitively removed and replaced" and for the children to be taught in "demountable classrooms if necessary".

"They will do regular air quality monitoring up until they complete that programme of removal," Miles said.

The school held an emergency meeting with a doctor and caregivers.

One concerned parent who went to the meeting told 9News it didn't help and they have lost faith in the school.

A Department of Education spokesperson said "all parents in the four classes impacted have chosen for their children to return to these rooms".