More than 100 schools still closed as safety checks continue

After four days of shutdowns, more than 100 Queensland schools were still listed as unsafe for students to attend, with principals and government building inspectors yet to give them the all clear.

On Tuesday morning, more than half of the 661 state schools that were closed on Monday as a result of severe weather had reopened.

At one Brisbane primary school, the principal advised parents on Monday night they were waiting for inspections from QBuild – under disaster management protocols – but were hopeful the school would get a safety check and clearance within 24 hours to allow it to reopen.

St Vincent’s Primary School, a Catholic school at Clear Island Waters on the Gold Coast, was hit hard by Cyclone Alfred.

Until the safety assessments were completed, school staff were not authorised to enter the site.

While that primary school remained closed on Tuesday, the nearby high school reopened as it had been assessed and cleared.

Asked how long it would take QBuild to complete all school inspections, Premier David Crisafulli insisted decisions were in the hands of school principals.

“It is driven locally by the principals,” he said.

“I want Queenslanders to know that I back local decision-making, and it’s local decision-making that has now got more than half the schools back.”

Crisafulli said some schools did not have power and others had trees fall on buildings, but the first wave of inspections had been done.

“We’ve got kids back to school quicker than ever before … the moment it’s safe, the moment there’s power back on, kids go back to school.

Coorparoo Secondary College was among the schools still closed on Tuesday.

“With that comes the ability for their parents to be able to try to get back to life as normal.”

The Education Department was not aware of any schools with major damage, but reiterated the assessments would reveal any hidden issues.

Thousands of students have missed four days of learning since schools were closed last Thursday, with parents struggling to juggle working from home or taking days off.

Some of the schools that reopened on Monday were set to provide supervision only, with reports only a handful of children arrived.

At 1pm on Tuesday, 249 state schools were listed as closed. By 4pm, the number was down to 108, including Coorparoo Secondary College, Sunnybank State High, West End State School and MacGregor State School.

Thirty-three independent schools and seven Catholic schools were also listed as still closed.

NAPLAN tests were due to start on Wednesday, but the state government said all schools closed as a result of Cyclone Alfred would be allowed to start their tests on Monday, March 17 instead.

Decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis, with principals given the option to delay tests.

Unaffected schools will begin NAPLAN testing from Wednesday.