Limassol, Cyprus. The government aims for all public schools to be equipped with air conditioning within a few months, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Thursday after visiting the 19th Primary School of Limassol.
Donation and installation
Michaelidou thanked private company XM for donating new units and said the ministry welcomes such initiatives, adding that public and private collaboration is being used to speed up implementation. According to the school administration, 24 air conditioning units have been installed, fully covering classrooms and facilities.
Government policy and school response
School director Christofis Christofis said the development reflected both government policy and private sector involvement in education infrastructure, adding that companies have realised that investing in education is a stock market in which whoever invests always wins.
Rollout and technical concerns
The rollout of air conditioning in schools is part of the government’s wider programme to address a shortage of units in classrooms. Electrical contractors have raised technical concerns about infrastructure capacity and grid limitations, warning that electrical loads in some schools may not be sufficient to support widespread simultaneous use of air conditioning systems without upgrades.
Ministry position
The education ministry said installation work is continuing in coordination with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus and that most schools are expected to be completed within the planned timeframe. It also confirmed that examinations this summer will take place in air-conditioned classrooms where systems are already operational.
