The Belvaux Poste primary school in Sanem municipality has been closed after asbestos was discovered in the building’s basement and will remain shut at least until the end of the Carnival half-term break.
According to a press release from the municipality of Sanem, the school closed on Wednesday 11 February and, based on the current situation, will stay closed until after the holiday period, from 14 to 22 February. Pupils are temporarily being relocated to the Scheierhaff site. School buses are operating from the Post Schoul stop to Scheierhaff.
Mayor Simone Asselborn-Bintz confirmed in an RTL interview that asbestos was identified in the basement of the school. She said the authorities reacted immediately by sealing off the affected area and carrying out further analyses, while informing both the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) and the Health Directorate.
Asselborn-Bintz explained that the decision to close the school was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure that children would not come into contact with the material. She stressed that pupils had not previously been exposed, as the asbestos was confined to the basement.
Further tests are currently under way, but the mayor expressed confidence that the school should be able to reopen after the Carnival break.
In the meantime, classes are continuing at the Scheierhaff site, while additional services such as the Education and Care Service (SEA) are being provided at alternative locations, namely at the A Gadder site and at the 12 rue de France site.
Asselborn-Bintz explained that, together with the school director, the municipality has informed parents by letter. Although she does not anticipate health risks for pupils, parents may contact the municipality for further information. Asselborn-Bintz has pledged to update families as soon as the results of the analyses are available.
