Nicosia school board president calls air-conditioning safety concerns “somewhat exaggerated”

Nicosia, Cyprus. Nicosia school board president Nikos Megalemos said on Wednesday that the Audit Office’s findings on air-conditioning safety in schools were “somewhat exaggerated”. He said the board was already discussing the issues raised and would consider them in future projects.

Audit Office findings

The Audit Office raised serious concerns on Tuesday after inspecting five schools. Its report identified incomplete work at four sites, makeshift electrical connections, alternating use of air conditioners to prevent overloads, and an electrical panel without its safety mechanism.

“I think the claims about security were overstated, leading to public worry,” Megalemos said, while adding that inspections were welcome.

Temporary connections and project progress

Megalemos said temporary connections had been made in a limited number of classrooms to meet Pancyprian Examinations needs, taking account of each school’s electrical capacity. He said they were not final installations and would now be disconnected.

Air conditioners have been installed in 96 schools in Nicosia. By July, however, only 18 of the 89 cases included in the project had been completed, a rate of 20 per cent.

Megalemos said that percentage did not reflect the scale of the district, which has 272 schools. He said completing the project by the end of 2026 would be “extremely difficult”.