THE Assembly Government’s target to have all school buildings fit for purpose by 2010 will be missed, with its latest estimate predicting they won’t all be ready until 2020.

In 2000, the Assembly Government made a commitment to get all school buildings in Wales into good physical shape by 2010.

In 2003, Jane Davidson outlined WAGs investment plans to help local authorities achieve this.  

But now the Minister has admitted that come 2010, Carmarthenshire expects 60% of its Modernising Education Programme to be complete, finishing it in 2015 and of the remaining 21 authorities, 10 are citing 2015 as their target and 11 cite 2020.

Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies said:

"This is not at all surprising but it is certainly very disappointing.

"Labour are quick to boast about how much money they have invested in school buildings over recent years but clearly it has not seen enough.

"The backlog in school building repairs and modernisation is already in excess of £800mn.

"The Minister has now finally admitted a considerable renovation and building backlog.

"It's clear the Labour‐Plaid administration's ideological hang up with the private sector is holding back investment and modernisation.

"It is not right that our children and teachers have to work in sub‐standard conditions."