Pupils and staff at primary school K’do in Antwerp are fed up. The 240 children and 30 staff have been stuck in a building without any proper heating for four weeks now. The temperature is not in excess of 12°C.
Climate & Environment
240 pupils stuck in school without any proper heating for 4 weeks now
Colin Clapson
Published:
Last year the central heating boiler was kept running only by using spare parts. This year it’s broken and cannot be repaired. “Donning warm clothes isn’t the solution” says Lisa Loeper of the school council. “It really is too cold”.
All the children were supposed to be going to school in a new building this year, but the new building collapsed and the move could not go ahead. Luckily, or perhaps not, the children and staff were able to remain in the old building, but urgent investments in a new heating system are needed. “Promises were made, but nothing happened” says Lisa.
The school has been emailing with the proprietors of the building, but emails and phone calls remain unanswered.
The school is trying to keep classes warm using emergency electric heating, but parents don’t think it’s safe. Electricity costs are sky-rocketing. “What we really need is a new boiler” says Lisa.