All Cyprus schools to receive air conditioning by 2028, president says

Nicosia, Cyprus. All schools will have air conditioning units installed by 2028, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday during a visit to Ayios Dhometios middle school marking the start of the new school year.

He said education remained the government’s top priority and that decisions on the sector were not treated as “a mere accounting exercise”.

Infrastructure investment

Christodoulides said the government had committed more than €130 million to school infrastructure, including the installation of air conditioning units.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, who accompanied the president, said the government remained committed to equipping every school with air conditioning.

District progress

Education ministry figures show that progress in primary schools varies between districts.

Famagusta has the highest proportion of fully equipped primary schools, at 65 per cent, followed by Limassol at 46 per cent and Larnaca at 39 per cent.

Paphos and Nicosia have lower rates, with 16 per cent and 24 per cent of primary schools respectively fully operational.

Secondary schools

Progress is higher in schools for older pupils, with most middle and high schools either fitted with air conditioning or close to completion.

All high schools in Larnaca have working air conditioning, while 90 per cent of high schools in Limassol are operational.

Electrical upgrades

Michaelidou said the work must be carried out safely, noting that ageing electrical infrastructure in some school buildings cannot support the additional load required by air conditioning units.

Electrical infrastructure upgrades are therefore needed before some installed units can be switched on.