A five-year program with a total expenditure of about €100 million. for air conditioning in schools, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth has prepared, the ministry's political head, Prodromos Prodromou, tells CNA.
Asked what the Ministry of Education intends to do about the issue of air conditioning in schools and whether it intends to install air conditioning in schools, Mr. Prodromou said that as announced in September 2021, the policy position was that planning will be done to install air conditioning in schools.
"This policy proposal was also made by the President of DISY, Averof Neophytou. The Ministry has a scientific study group, in cooperation with the National Technical University of Cyprus and the University of Cyprus. There is a design for the conversion of school buildings, with interventions that will create a suitable bioclimatic environment and the corresponding thermal comfort," he added.
At the same time, Mr. The pilot project PEDIA, in cooperation with the Energy Office - with European research funding and expenditure from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources - for the conversion of 25 schools into near-zero energy buildings, including the creation of thermal comfort conditions, is also underway.
"The 25 schools have been selected from among 100. The project may then be extended to others," he noted.
He also said that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth has, however, proceeded in parallel with a study to install air conditioning in a project that includes all schools.
"On the basis of the study done and after consultations with the Ministry of Finance, a proposal will be submitted for approval to the Council of Ministers and the project should be included in the next medium-term financial plans. This planning will be announced next week," he added.
He also said that in addition to the almost 5,000 devices already in schools, it is planned to equip all classrooms, with two alternative operational scenarios.
"The expenditure mainly concerns the upgrade of electrical installations in schools (€70 million). Gradual implementation with a five-year plan," concluded the Minister of Education.
Source: CNA
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