Auditor-general warns of safety risks from air conditioners in public schools

Nicosia, Cyprus. Auditor-general Andreas Papaconstantinou on Tuesday raised serious concerns about air conditioners installed in public schools, warning of risks to the health and safety of children and teachers. He said required implementation stages had been bypassed with the education ministry’s knowledge.

Inspections found unfinished work

At four of the five schools visited by the Audit Office on September 24, basic work remained outstanding, although the education ministry had said installation was complete at those schools.

Papaconstantinou said inspectors found air conditioners that had been installed for almost two years but remained unconnected, units being operated alternately to avoid overloading, makeshift electrical connections and an electrical panel with its safety device removed. He said the Audit Office was also told of a circuit breaker that tripped and was reset seven times in one day.

He said air conditioners had been put into operation without prior inspection and certification of the electrical installation, or completion of the final inspection and approval. In his view, their operation should stop immediately until the prescribed procedure is completed.

Project management questioned

Discussing the project’s implementation between 2023 and 2026, Papaconstantinou said the education ministry had been absent for most of the project after assigning school boards to manage work for which they lacked the necessary expertise. The ministry was appointed central coordinator only during the third phase.

He said the project’s fragmentation, inadequate market research and restrictive participation criteria had limited competition, affecting the implementation timetable and possibly prices. He also highlighted the need for transparency.