With the heatwave, schools turn into saunas

Classrooms in Belgium are becoming unbearable as heatwaves intensify, forcing teachers to adapt to extreme temperatures. In one rural nursery school in Namur province, a teacher described her container classroom as a "calvary" during heatwaves, with no protection from the scorching sun. "Clearly, we are not equipped to cope with these temperatures," she stated, noting that even traditional classrooms reach 30°C. Opening windows offers little relief, leaving educators to simply "wait for it to pass."

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Clearly, we are not equipped to cope with these temperatures.

The Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute forecasts temperatures above 32°C through Friday, with peaks potentially reaching 37°C mid-week. Teachers report that the heat makes children tired and irritable, hindering normal functioning and learning. "Everything is more complicated, more energy-consuming, so we do a reduced program," one teacher explained, resorting to water games and bathing dolls to keep children engaged, though she admitted the heat is "unbearable."

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Everything is more complicated, more energy-consuming, so we do a reduced program.

School directors are also struggling. One in Quévy-le-Grand highlighted that the old, poorly adapted building can reach 32°C internally. The school has shifted to earlier morning breaks and adapted learning activities, but midday conditions remain challenging. Some parents are invited to pick up their children at noon. In Charleroi, a primary school teacher reported temperatures exceeding 36°C, with a playground lacking shade and buildings lacking shutters or even windows in some classrooms. She called the working conditions "shameful."

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The building is old and poorly adapted to heatwaves. Consequently, indoor temperatures can reach about 32°C in the middle of the day.

Facing these conditions, some school authorities have decided to close establishments. One Brussels municipality has implemented strong measures to combat the heat in its schools, prioritizing student safety and well-being.

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Our playground has no shade, our buildings are dilapidated, there are no shutters or blinds, and some classrooms don't even have windows. It's shameful to have to work with children in such conditions.