OUR story today on the massive repair bills faced by schools is a reflection of a problem faced by councils across the country.

In Gwent, more than £200 million is needed to bring buildings up to a standard set by the National Assembly.

And those targets have to be met in the next two years.

It seems like an impossible task.

Most local education authorities have only just scratched the surface of starting these mammoth repairs.

Mergers and new schools will solve the problem for some.

But the rest are faced with an almost impossible task in such a short space of time.

The obvious questions many readers will ask today is that if the Assembly has set these targets and wants these repairs then why doesn't it pay for them?

But nothing is ever that straightforward in government and it is our local councils that have been left with this horrible burden.

Schools have a difficult enough time as it is.

Under-funding has plagued them for years through successive governments.

Our story today highlights the urgency of these repairs with pupils taught in cramped classrooms with dry rot, broken windows and awful play areas.

It's hardly the 21st Century education system Tony Blair spoke so eagerly about when he was Prime Minister.

It's about time the bull was taken by the horns.

The only way our local education authorities will be able to pay for these repairs is with increased funding from the Assembly.

If it is not prepared to do that then it shouldn't be too surprised if this gigantic repair bill remains unpaid in 2010.