The mercury may have soared into record-breaking territory, but some parents in the UK are fighting back against the sweltering temperatures – literally installing air conditioning units in their children's schools to keep them cool. The decision to take matters into their own hands comes as thousands of students across England and Wales were forced to leave school early due to the ongoing heatwave.
While some schools have attempted to mitigate the effects by moving classes outdoors or providing fans, the efforts have been deemed inadequate by many parents. "We just can't afford to wait for the authorities to catch up," said one parent, who wished to remain anonymous. The National Education Union (NEU) has echoed these concerns, stating that many school buildings are not designed to withstand extreme temperatures and are putting pupils at risk of heat-related illnesses.
The cost of installing air conditioning in schools can be prohibitively expensive for some parents, with estimates ranging from £5,000 to over £20,000 per unit. However, a small but growing number of parents are taking on the financial burden to ensure their children's safety and comfort during lessons. "We want our kids to be able to learn without worrying about overheating," said another parent, who has already contributed to the cost of air conditioning in her child's school.