Cold in schools: pupils in classes at 11-14°C

For many students, the resumption of classes, after the All Saints holidays, took place in icy rooms. For several weeks, faced with the rise in energy prices and the energy sobriety plan imposed by the government, some municipalities have had to take energy measures in schools. This time, in November, in several schools in France, the thermometers in the classrooms showed between 11 and 14 degrees, and for some less than 10 degrees. In Rouen, the students even had lessons this Monday in rooms without heater, while outside temperatures have dropped sharply in recent days. In Lyon too, in about thirty nursery and elementary schools but also in nurseries the children were very cold due to a strike by the heating engineers. On the side of Limoges, the situation is also similar. The director of the Limoges kindergarten Léon Bloom is even indignant: “These are conditions that are not at all favorable to learning. They are forced to stay dressed in big coats. It is absolutely not possible to work for us. The adults still manage to manage, but for the little ones, it’s impossible !”, she complains to France 3 New Aquitaine. Especially since in her school, the director also welcomes students with disabilities. “There are children in inclusion who cannot move, who have disabilities. Really, the temperatures should be at least 18° in the classrooms, and not just at the radiator.”

Parents denounce the situation

For parents of students, the current situation in schools is more than worrying. In view of the temperatures felt, some are worried about the repercussions on their children, others are still thinking of withdrawing them from school and in Rouen, parents have refused to let them in class. On social networks, many parents have denounced the conditions in which their toddlers study.

Asked by Le Parisien, a mother whose son is in CM1 class is particularly worried about the implications for student health. “My son has had two lung diseases since the beginning of the year. And the second time, the doctors asked me if he was in a humid environment. When you know that the humidity level in the classroom can be around 80%, you have reason to worry.” She also said that the situation is not new, it has been going on for several weeks now: “the school asked us, well before the start of the holidays, to equip our children with a plaid because the temperature could drop to 14.5°C in the classrooms”.

A university closed this winter

Universities are not spared either. To further reduce its energy costs, on September 19, the management of the University of Strasbourg announced in A press release closing all of its buildings for a fortnight this winter. Two weeks added to the initial schedule. But this decision was not taken by chance. It is part of an energy sobriety plan desired by the management, in order to deal with the energy crisis. “Recent developments confirm this significant upward trend for both gas and electricity. This will inevitably have consequences for our energy bill”explained Michel Deneken, the president of the university. The Strasbourg university also plans to postpone the date for starting the heating, and to maintain a temperature of 19 degrees in the premises.as recommended by the government in its sobriety plan.

Decisions that don’t pass

This announcement from the University of Strasbourg made the students but also the staff of the establishment react. The unions of teachers and administrative, technical and library staff deplored, in a press release, “the lack of consultation and the risks that this closure could pose to staff and students”reports France 3 Great East. Remote courses and telework are singled out, because they would be badly experienced by students and teachers, “causing great suffering” like during the health crisis.

More generally also, in primary and secondary schools, these energy measures do not pass. Last October, parents of students had mobilized to denounce these same conditions. In Evreux, Normandy, thehe parents had decided on September 27 to block access to the school. “No heating, no school”could we read on banners. “It is necessary that our dissatisfaction be heard, that our children receive an education in a dignified and acceptable climate, and that the municipality understands that children between 2 and 5 years old need this heating. We are not asking for an excessive temperature, simply that it be dignified.” “Many children are sick, it is unacceptable to leave children in such conditions”, was indignant a mother at Actu.fr.