MPs demand firm timetable for school air conditioner rollout
A House education committee meeting on Wednesday called for a strict schedule to install and switch on air conditioners in all schools, as many classrooms still lack working units.
The House education committee, educational organisations, parent associations and the Pan-Cyprian Student Co-ordinating Committee (Psem) jointly requested a clear timetable for the installation and operation of air conditioners in all schools, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
Committee chairman and Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides said the current government had made the political decision to begin a project that should have been done decades ago, but noted that some school units still see students and teachers suffering from very high temperatures, while in several cases air conditioners have been installed but not put into operation.
Diko MP and committee deputy chairman Panikos Leonidou acknowledged significant progress, with several school units already equipped. He said Diko would continue to monitor implementation and exercise parliamentary control to ensure timetables are met, adding that the ultimate goal remains coverage of all schools so students and teachers have better and safer conditions.
Leonidou said technical difficulties, particularly in older buildings, could not justify further delays, and called for better coordination between the education ministry, School Boards, the EAC and the electromechanical service.
Deputy director of secondary general education George Koutsidis said the ministry is proceeding with works, prioritising high schools and middle schools before moving to elementary schools and kindergartens, and believes the project will be 100 per cent completed this school year.
Nicosia school board president Nikos Megalemos said installations began in 2024 but cannot be completed by 2026, and that completing them in 2027 is impossible where substations are needed, as the EAC requires at least 18 months. An EAC representative said 219 applications for inspection of air conditioning installations were received in the last two years, with 142 inspected and 77 still pending. A finance ministry spokesman said the necessary funds are available, with €5 million provided for this year and €10 million for 2027 if the budget is approved.
What it means for residents
The slow and uneven rollout of air conditioning affects families across Cyprus, as children and teachers continue to face extreme heat in classrooms while some installed units remain switched off. Parents should expect continued disruption and should press local school boards for clear updates on their own school's schedule.
- School routines: Some classes may still be held in sweltering conditions, and parents may need to plan for heat-related adjustments or complaints to school boards.
- Timelines: With grid connections requiring up to 18 months in some areas, schools waiting on substations could see delays well beyond 2026.
- Public money: €5 million is available this year and €10 million is proposed for 2027, so residents can track whether funding translates into working units in their local schools.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
