Vienna teachers report classrooms exceeding 30C, call for earlier holidays

Teachers in Vienna are struggling to conduct lessons in classrooms that regularly surpass 30 degrees Celsius, with some reaching 36 degrees. Sarah Grundner, a middle school teacher, documented the extreme temperatures, noting that "learning in that sense is no longer really possible." She described "extreme concentration problems" among students, many of whom suffer from headaches or arrive at school sleep-deprived. The high proportion of students affected by poverty means many also face heat at home. While no child has yet collapsed, Grundner reported several "came close."

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Because I wanted to know. In every classroom, it was at least 30 degrees at least once a day.

Students experiencing heat distress are moved to the coolest room, around 27 degrees, where they rest with cool cloths. Children, parents, and teacher representatives have voiced complaints about the "unbearable" situation. Vienna's education councilor, Bettina Emmerling, has proposed moving the start of school holidays to June to address the crisis.

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But even then, teaching is no longer possible.

Martina Meister-Wolf, director of the Bildungscampus Aspern Seestadt, confirmed that "learning in that sense is not really possible, or only for a limited time. Just in the morning." Although her school is relatively new and modern, it lacks air conditioning. However, it does have external blinds, which are closed after morning ventilation. Despite these measures, some classrooms with large window fronts still reach 35-36 degrees Celsius due to direct sun exposure. "Other classrooms are a bit cooler" but still hover around 31 degrees, too hot for effective all-day teaching, especially for students with physical disabilities or special needs.

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learning in that sense is not really possible, or only for a limited time. Just in the morning.

As a full-day school, the campus normally alternates between lessons and leisure activities. This week, however, the schedule was changed in "consultation with parents" to only include morning classes, allowing children to be picked up at midday. This adjustment was necessary because "the heat is also a major medical issue" for many students, particularly those with pre-existing conditions.

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the heat is also a major medical issue