Playas de Orihuela primary school, one of three infant and primary centres on the Orihuela coast, has suffered persistent heating problems since March of last year. Staff say the situation has worsened because the school has been without gas since last month, leaving more than 700 pupils and teachers wearing coats in class. The centre has repeatedly requested repairs but the boiler remains unrepaired.
The Association of Families of Pupils (AFA) has sought several technical estimates and asked for official temperature measurements, but a brief dip in temperatures last September made data inconclusive. Proposals such as portable air conditioning were rejected because of extra electricity use and school rules, leaving one or two fans per classroom, which families and staff describe as inadequate. The school leadership says it has asked the city council for fixed air conditioning but has received no reply.
Families have been urged to file formal complaints with the council and a school council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to address the issue. Local representatives warn that poor thermal conditions harm pupils’ health and learning and create educational inequality, noting that other schools in the province already faced extreme heat earlier in the school year with classroom temperatures well above safe limits.