Christchurch earthquake: Teachers warned to beware of unsafe schools

fallen street sign rests in rubble in Lyttelton. Photo / Getty Images

Christchurch teachers are being urged to stay away from the classroom for their own safety.

All schools, kindergartens and early childhood services in Christchurch are closed until further notice.

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa said school and early childhood staff must listen to Civil Defence advice and keep away from quake-affected buildings and classrooms.

It said assessors would be moving around schools and centres in the coming week but it was already known that many were very badly damaged.

"Some teachers and principals may be tempted to go into their schools and centres to inspect the damage for themselves, but unless they are with an assessment team they should not put themselves at risk,'' NZEI president Ian Leckie said .

"There are clear health and safety hazards and they should stay away until the all clear is given."

He said itt was likely to be several weeks before schools in the Christchurch area could reopen, although many schools in the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts would reopen tomorrow.

- NZPA