Education Minister expects many more school air conditioners to work by April and May

Nicosia, Cyprus. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Friday that air conditioning should be working in a far greater number of schools by April and May next year. She spoke after presenting the ministry’s annual budget to the House finance committee.

Inspections to be accelerated

Michaelidou said instructions had been given to speed up inspections through the winter, so that more units can be put into use once temperatures climb. She said the ministry anticipated a considerable rise in the number of working units next year and would shortly release figures for schools across Cyprus.

Related: Cyprus Education Minister Expects Teacher Appointment Bill in Parliament by Early December

RelatedCyprus Education Minister Expects Teacher Appointment Bill in Parliament by Early December

She noted that the project had met technical and practical difficulties, but said efforts to resolve them were continuing.

Progress in the districts

The minister said the project had advanced considerably in several districts. In her words: “All high schools have reached 100 per cent coverage, while a very high percentage of middle schools and a significant number of primary schools have also been equipped.”

Ministry figures show that progress differs from one district to another. Famagusta is in front, with 65 per cent of primary schools fully equipped, while Paphos stands at 16 per cent and Nicosia at 24 per cent.

Safety concerns and delays

The remarks follow worries about the speed and safety of the installations. The audit office recently found unfinished works and electrical connections that could be unsafe during checks at five schools.

Nikos Megalemos, president of the Nicosia school board, later called the safety concerns exaggerated. He confirmed that temporary connections used for the Pancyprian examinations would be disconnected.

The project began in 2023 and has been subject to delays. Completion was first expected by the end of this year, but the timeline is now projected to run into 2028.