Delays in school air conditioning installation spark criticism

The Ministry of Education’s plan to install air conditioning units in 50 schools by September has fallen short, with fewer than half expected to be completed on time. Parents are expressing frustration, directing their complaints towards the School Boards.

Loizos Konstantinou, President of the Confederation of Parents of Secondary Education, expressed concerns during an interview on SPOR FM's "Diaspora News" show. He pointed out that while Nicosia and Limassol are progressing, other regions are falling behind. Konstantinou questioned the uneven pace of work, noting that Nicosia has been working intensively over the summer while other areas have made minimal progress.

Current estimates suggest that only 14 to 15 schools will have air conditioning installed as scheduled. After the initial 50 schools, another 450 remain pending.

Progress update
- In Nicosia, five out of ten schools will be equipped by August 31, with an extension granted until September 10 for the remaining five.
- Limassol has secured a bid for five of ten schools, with a second bid process set to conclude by October 10.
- In Larnaca, contracts have been signed with installation aimed for October.
- Paphos is still awaiting bid approvals for all ten schools.
- Famagusta has secured bids for three schools, with a goal to install units in 12 schools instead of ten.

Criteria and challenges
Nicolas Megalemos, Chairman of the Nicosia School Board, explained that the next phase involves selecting ten additional schools based on factors such as location, temperature, humidity, and electrical capacity. He also noted that some schools require additional electricity infrastructure, which could delay the installation by up to 24 months. Once evaluations are complete, the School Board will consult with the Cyprus Electricity Authority to identify schools needing such infrastructure.