Parliamentary committee seeks timetable for air conditioning in all schools

Nicosia, Cyprus. The House education committee, educational organisations, parent associations and the Pan-Cyprian Student Co-ordinating Committee (Psem) requested a clear timetable for the installation and operation of air conditioners in all schools during a joint meeting on Wednesday.

They noted that, despite progress, some schools continue to face high temperatures and some installed units have not yet been put into operation.

Call for implementation timetable

House education committee chairman and Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides said the current government had made the political decision to begin the project in an organised manner, describing it as an effort that should have been completed decades ago.

He said there were still school units where students and teachers experienced very high temperatures, while in several cases air conditioners had been installed but were not operational.

Progress and monitoring

Diko MP and committee deputy chairman Panikos Leonidou said significant progress had been made, with several school units equipped with air conditioners.

He said the Christodoulides government had demonstrated political will to address the longstanding issue and that Diko would continue to monitor the project’s implementation through parliamentary oversight to ensure timetables were met.

Leonidou said the aim remained to cover all schools so that students and teachers could have improved and safer learning and working conditions.

Technical challenges

Leonidou said technical difficulties, particularly in older school buildings, could not justify further delays. He called for better coordination and closer cooperation between the education ministry, School Boards, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus and the electromechanical service.

Deputy director of secondary general education George Koutsidis said the ministry was proceeding with the work. He said priority would be given to high schools and middle schools, before the project moved on to elementary schools and kindergartens.