Nicosia, Cyprus. Most public preschools, high schools and nearly all middle schools will begin the new school year with air conditioning installed, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Thursday.
Installation progress
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Michaelidou said every preschool is now equipped with air conditioning, with parents’ associations providing some financial assistance. All high schools have also been equipped because classrooms remain open.
She said around half of primary schools will have air conditioning when pupils return, while completing the remaining installations will be the ministry’s priority in the coming months.
“The school year will begin with this picture, with the emphasis being on primary schools until the end of the year,” she said.
Electrical upgrades
Michaelidou said the ministry first had to address shortcomings in schools’ electrical systems before installing air conditioning units, an issue also noted in a recent Audit Office report.
The rollout has faced technical challenges, with electrical contractors warning that ageing infrastructure and insufficient capacity at some schools could prevent systems from operating safely without substantial upgrades.
Industry representatives had cautioned that overloaded circuits and inadequate cabling could cause power failures if units were switched on simultaneously before electrical work was completed.
Government programme
The timetable represents further progress in the government’s programme to equip classrooms with cooling systems following repeated concerns over high indoor temperatures during summer months.
The Education Ministry said installations have been carried out in coordination with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus and that electrical upgrades have been included in the project.
