The Ministry of Education is taking urgent action as an Auckland special education school has been left with so much mould it is growing mushrooms on its walls.
It comes as the Government announced on Monday it would be halting school rebuild projects while a ministerial inquiry into ballooning costs gets underway.
Approximately 352 school projects at 305 schools — in stages ranging from design to pre-construction — could be scaled down or scrapped.
Sommerville Special School in Auckland, which works with children with intellectual and physical disabilities, is among the schools left in limbo amid the inquiry.
The building is covered in mould, with mushrooms growing on its walls.
"It's starting to actually cut into the wall now. We can't use this space 'til we fix it," a staff member said.
"No more music therapy," principal Belinda Johnston added.
Sommerville Special School has been waiting for the past 20 years for a fix.
"I think this just reaffirms the idea that the needs of children with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities aren't a priority," she said.
The Ministry of Education's chief executive Iona Holsted said she was "certainly not happy about this situation".
However, Holsted said she was "not aware" that the school's facilities would have an impact on the students' health.
Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker told 1News it was "appalling to let facilities get so downgraded that students' health is compromised".
Exposure to mould can lead to a range of health concerns, including the development of allergy symptoms such as a runny nose and sore throat, and aggravate respiratory problems, according to the Building Performance.
Schools must comply with the removal of mould and fungi, the MoE said on its website.
In a statement this afternoon, the Education Ministry told 1News it would be responding with urgency to the concerns raised by the school.
It added that it was completely unacceptable that any student is trying to learn in an unhealthy environment.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said she had not been informed about the mushrooms, but said a mould specialist has since been sent to the school to "ascertain the state of the school and move forward".
SHARE ME