School buildings crisis exposes long-term planning failure
Over 100 schools in the UK have been forced to partially or fully close due to concerns about the stability of buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). The government's commissioning of surveys last year has revealed the potential extent of the problem, causing widespread concern among councils, headteachers, and parents. The crisis highlights the failure of long-term planning and the frequent raiding of capital budgets for day-to-day spending needs.