Use school grounds over the summer holidays but treat them with respect.
 
That is the plea from Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, on the day schools break up for the summer holidays.
 
It’s the policy of the Department of Education and Children to keep grounds open when schools are closed, providing safe recreational areas for the public to use.
 
However, the Minister revealed that 85 per cent of vandalism to primary schools occurs when they are closed, with incidents spiking towards the end of the summer holidays.
 
Most common incidents are broken windows and damage to play equipment and benches.
 
In the 2011/12 financial year, there were 45 incidents of vandalism at primary schools, costing the DEC nearly ?5,000 to put right. Just 12 of the 36 primary sites were unaffected.
 
‘As well as the obvious danger to users posed by shattered glass and damaged equipment, the money we spend on repairs could obviously be put to better use in education,’ said the Minister.
 
‘We want everyone to have a safe summer holiday. Fingers crossed we’ll finally have some sunshine and young people will use school grounds to play in, but we’d ask that they treat the premises with respect and have consideration for other users.’
 
In contrast to primaries, three quarters of damage that occurs at secondary schools happens during term time.
 
Secondary schools use their own budgets to correct some damage but 86 incidents were reported to the central Works Division in 2011/12 and these cost ?8,500 to repair.