TEACHERS called for an urgent review into all public private partnership (PPP) contracts yesterday following the closure of schools built under the scheme due to safety fears. 

Education union EIS made the call as Edinburgh City Council was forced to shut 17 schools after “serious defects” were discovered last week. 

The closures have affected approximately 9,000 children, many of whom are studying for exams. 

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan questioned “how such significant defaults could escape normal building control scrutiny.” He added: “It is now necessary for an urgent review of all PPP/PFI contracts, including the terms of the private maintenance contracts which are often both expensive and extremely restrictive.”

Edinburgh City Council leader Andrew Burns accused Edinburgh Schools Partnership (ESP), whichcollects £40 million a year from the taxpayer to run the affected schools, of failing the council, children, parents and staff. 

He added: “We have every right to expect these schools to have been built to a good standard and in accordance with industry practice. “We now know this isn’t the case.” 

SNP candidate for Edinburgh Southern Jim Eadie wrote to Mr Burns calling on the council to take “decisive action” and take over running the schools. 

He also called for an apology from Labour “for signing us up to such extortionate contracts that have delivered what are now clearly substandard buildings.”

Campaign for Socialism chair Denise Christie warned the Scottish government has simply rebranded PFI deals.

She told the Star: “Scottish Labour is committed to examining buying back contracts, that would at least reduce some of the profit taking.”

An ESP spokeswoman apologised and said the partnership would accept “full financial responsibility” for the closures.