School heat: parents demand cool classrooms, free materials
Families should not be expected to carry fans into schools when a heatwave strikes, Spain’s Confederation of Pupils’ Parents’ Associations, CEAPA, says. The group made its demands in Madrid on Wednesday, 16 September, calling for cooler classrooms, free school materials and digital education for artificial intelligence. Its president, María Sánchez Martín, said a child’s education still depends too heavily on where they live.
CEAPA says the gaps run not only between Spain’s autonomous communities, but also between municipalities and even schools in the same town. It wants properly funded plans to cool and adapt schools, with clear deadlines and technical standards suited to each area.
Cooling, staff and the cost of school
Sánchez said progress on school cooling remains far too limited. CEAPA argues that ending lessons early, changing timetables or asking families to provide fans is not a sensible answer to a heatwave.
The federation also says inclusive education is being held back by unfilled cover posts, too few specialist teachers and a lack of staff and support for pupils with special educational needs. It wants full staffing and enough support in classrooms.
Families are still paying for materials during compulsory education, which CEAPA says should genuinely be free. It also wants school-meal grants to reflect the real cost and, where needed, extend to secondary education.
Digital skills instead of blanket bans
CEAPA warns against answering problems involving screens, artificial intelligence, hate speech, sexism, racism and polarisation simply with bans, punishments or exclusions. It calls instead for prevention, digital education, training for teachers and families, and chances for pupils to take part.
Sánchez rejected removing screens from classrooms, saying children will live in a world of screens. The federation also opposes banning AI in schools and wants it used responsibly, with school curricula adapted to it.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com