Families and teachers pay for air conditioning in schools: "We've reached 34.7 degrees in the classroom."

PalmThe intense heat of June and September impacts the routine of schools. Most of these buildings, often old and poorly insulated, lack adequate air conditioning: facades without thermal protection, single-pane or poorly fitted windows, and only a few have fans to try to alleviate the temperature. In classrooms measuring 40 square meters, where more than 25 children and one teacher are concentrated, thermal comfort is almost impossible to achieve. Few schools can boast modern cooling systems or exterior insulation that maintain an optimal temperature without relying exclusively on these devices. Faced with this reality, marked by obsolete buildings and where extreme temperatures are a constant, it is families, teachers, and students who are taking the initiative to find solutions. The Ministry of Education has implemented the Air Conditioning Plan, but it will take years to reach all schools.

Recently, the Family Association of the Berenguer Secondary School in Anoia (Inca) donated 20 fans for the school's classrooms. In a message sent to the educational community, they summarize the school's current situation: "Many classrooms at Berenguer (especially those in the ESO classes) urgently need adequate air conditioning," they say. "Even more would be needed to cover all their needs, but we've already taken a first step! Together with the school's management team and school council, we will forward this urgent request for air conditioning at the Berenguer Secondary School in Anoia to the Regional Ministry," they add. The president of the Mallorca Family Association (FAPA), Xavier Ferriol, assures that parents and management teams have had to take charge of the schools' air conditioning for years. "At the Aina Moll Primary School, they installed fans eight years ago. It's become normal for each school to fight its own battle," he laments.

The school year has also started hot and hectic at the Can Peu Blanc Secondary School (Sa Pobla). "There are classrooms that have reached 34.7 degrees and there are others that have reached 31 degrees at 8:00 in the morning... and we have no air conditioning, except for a small fan on the wall that is useless (and not in all classrooms)," complained sources from the teaching staff. "Students and teachers are having a hard time," they lamented. The school has already contacted the Occupational Risk Prevention Service to express its displeasure. The Can Peu Blanc educational community also criticizes a fact that everyone who has visited the Ministry of Education is aware of: there are areas of the building where the wind is so strong it's cold. In fact, some staff members wear sweaters to cover themselves. It must be said that there are also other areas where it is hot. It is a building with various extreme climatic conditions.

Students in struggle

The students at Can Peu Blanc have taken action to get their school air-conditioned and have created an Instagram profile with a very indicative name: @volemairecondicionat. It was activated six days ago, and since then, they have been posting to explain the school's climate situation, in which they mention the Mallorcan Council, the Sa Pobla City Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Minister of Education, Antoni Vera.

In a post this Thursday, they claim that since they began their activity, they have not been able to get air conditioning installed, but fans have been installed in 1% of the school's classrooms. A strike has been proposed, and according to them, the Minister of Education has blocked them, as the app no longer allows them to mention him. The same sources from the Can Peu Blanc teaching staff report that the school, using its own budget, has installed ceiling fans in one classroom. This week, since it hasn't been so hot, the temperature has dropped to 29 degrees.

Another school that has recently spoken out is the Clara Hammerl Secondary School in Port de Pollença. Some of the faculty and students took photos in the courtyard to denounce the fact that, throughout the day, classroom temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius, with student ratios exceeding 24 and, often, two teachers per class. "For decent spaces!" the school's Teachers' Assembly demands.

Despite the widespread precariousness, there are also schools (new ones) and others old, that have faced the climate emergency with their own mechanisms, and are air-conditioned. One example is the CEIP Can Coix (San Antonio de Portmany), which can be considered one of the privileged ones. Years ago, it began providing different spaces with air conditioning "with the help of families, fundraising parties, and the school's own resources," explains the director, Maribel Domínguez. This intervention was necessary, since the school has classrooms where, at 2 p.m., temperatures can reach 38 degrees if the air conditioning is not turned on.

Air conditioning, an ongoing challenge

In May, Education sources assured ARA Baleares that, from 2023 (until July, when the Left Pact was in power) to 2025, €9,989,200 had been invested in initiatives to improve building insulation and air conditioning systems, among other measures. Projects worth €2.9 million were still pending tender for this summer. A month later, in June, the Ministry of Education presented the conclusions of the Air Conditioning Pilot Plan, which studied the state of 19 representative educational centers across the Balearic Islands. €23 million will be invested. The report was prepared by the University-Business Foundation of the Balearic Islands (FUEIB).. The FUEIB (Spanish Educational Institution for the Development of Education) has proposed the necessary measures to improve the air conditioning in each building. These measures focus on improving thermal insulation, replacing woodwork, replacing air conditioning equipment, and installing radiators, LED lighting, and solar panels. Meanwhile, Educació had also purchased thousands of fans to distribute among the schools, but according to the school, these have not always been sufficient or effective.

Regarding the timing of the work at the 19 centers included in the Plan, Minister Vera declined to give a specific deadline, as all relevant administrative procedures must be followed, and a company must also be present to carry out the work. This September, he was asked how soon all educational centers (nearly 300, including primary and secondary schools) in the Balearic Islands would have air conditioning. "I don't want to give any credit," he said.