FOUR in five Scottish schools have cut cleaning in the last three years thanks to budget cuts, a new survey reveals today — and it’s leading to “major outbreaks of norovirus” and “rodent infestations.”

Teachers revealed the stark effects of cuts in responses to a survey carried out by the Education Institute of Scotland (EIS).

Reports included vomit not being cleaned up properly, bins left unemptied and cleaning products being replaced with plain water.

Some teachers said that there was no cleaning at all in their schools on certain days.

One teacher told the union: “We had a very bad infection that required a deep clean to get rid of, and all staff and a huge majority of the pupils got sick. I don’t believe this would have happened if the school was cleaner in the first place.”

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The results of this survey make for worrying reading. Schools simply must be properly cleaned on a daily basis to ensure an appropriate learning and teaching environment for pupils and staff.

“Cuts to cleaning services are placing a great deal of strain on cleaning staff, in some instances forcing teachers to undertake cleaning of classrooms, and creating an environment where germs and disease can spread rapidly and with serious repercussions for the health of pupils and staff.”

Mr Flanagan, whose union’s conference opens on Thursday, warned that such conditions “can lead to increases in pupil and teacher absence,” which could in turn have a marked effect on teaching and learning.

“Recent incidences such as major outbreaks of norovirus and infestations of insects or rodents in schools have further highlighted the consequences of cutting back on proper cleaning within our schools,” he added.