Auditor-general flags safety gaps in school air conditioner roll-out
Andreas Papaconstantinou says some air conditioners were powered up without electrical certification, urging immediate suspension until proper checks are done.
Cyprus's auditor-general has raised alarms over how air conditioners were installed in public schools, saying the usual approval stages were skipped. As Cyprus Mail reports, Andreas Papaconstantinou told reporters the situation poses dangers to both pupils and staff.
Inspections on September 24 found unfinished work at four of five schools the Audit Office visited, even though the education ministry had listed them as complete. Some units sat unconnected for nearly two years, others ran in rotation to avoid overloading circuits, and improvised wiring was discovered.
The project, launched for 209 schools across three phases, had reached 81 of 219 cases by July 2026, with a current cost of €9,819,430 excluding VAT. Completion has slipped from the end of 2026 to the end of 2028.
What it means for residents
For families with children in public schools, the audit raises questions about whether classrooms are actually safe to use and whether the promised cooling will arrive on schedule.
- Check with your school whether its air conditioning has passed electrical inspection and certification before it is switched on.
- Expect delays — the revised timeline now stretches to the end of 2028, so many schools will wait longer for cooling.
- Watch costs — the budget has already passed €9.8m and overruns in some tenders remain unquantified, which could affect future public spending.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
