The Ministry of Education took up the challenge and responded to the Court of Auditors and its scathing report regarding the installation of air conditioners in schools and the problems identified by Court of Auditors officialsfollowing an on-site inspection—problems which, as the Audit Office notes in its report, pose serious risks to public health.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (YPAN) notes that the installation of air conditioners in public schools “is one of the largest projects currently underway to improve the daily life of the school community. This is an initiative that, from the very beginning, aimed to fill a decades-long gap in public education, an issue that, despite the long-standing and genuine need of students, teachers, and parents, had not previously been addressed in a substantive and comprehensive manner.”
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The current government, notes the Ministry of Education, “has taken the political decision to transform this long-standing issue into a concrete project, with a universal goal, planning, funding, and implementation on a pan-Cypriot basis. Today, this decision is already yielding concrete and measurable results. According to the latest available data, air conditioning systems are now fully operational in nearly 90% of high schools and nearly 75% of middle schools, while work continues at the remaining grade levels and in schools throughout Cyprus.”
Regarding the Audit Office’s report on the installation of air conditioning in public schools, the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth states that “it welcomes any audit that can contribute to improving procedures and to the even more effective implementation of a project of this scale. The Ministry is aware of the problems and challenges that have arisen during implementation; are being systematically monitored and addressed, and relevant instructions have already been issued to the School Boards, which are responsible for carrying out the project.”
At the same time, “in order to properly assess the project’s progress, it is important to take into account its actual scale, its complexity, and the dynamic nature of its implementation. This is a large-scale project covering the entire island, involving hundreds of schools with varying architectural, electrical, and technical specifications. The overall picture of such a project cannot be formed solely by recording data from a limited number of schools, especially at a time when work is in full swing and the data are constantly changing depending on the progress and technical needs of each school.”
A significant portion of the Report, notes the Ministry of Infrastructure, “concerns only the initial planning of the project for the 2023–2024 period and, more specifically, the planning of the three installation phases. This plan has already changed since 2024, when the program was expanded to all public schools throughout Cyprus, with the exception of schools in mountainous areas where conditions and needs are different. Consequently, reports and charts based on the original three phases do not reflect the current scope and actual progress of the project’s implementation. More detailed data and the relevant statements from the Ministry of Education are included in the Appendix to the Report.”
“The installation of thousands of air conditioning units in school buildings is not a simple process of purchasing and installing equipment. In many cases, electrical upgrades, grid reinforcement, and other technical interventions are required, particularly in school infrastructure that has been facing problems that have accumulated over the years. “These interventions are necessary to ensure that the systems can operate safely, reliably, and on a permanent basis,” the Ministry of Digital Governance adds in its announcement, continuing by stating that “precisely for this reason, the project is being implemented in accordance with specific public procurement procedures and technical specifications established by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs’ Technical Services, with the necessary resources allocated and the safety of students, teachers, and school staff as the absolute priority. The Ministry’s position is and remains clear. Speed in implementation is important. Safety, however, is non-negotiable. There will be no compromises on technical requirements or safety issues for the sake of expediting the process or making a good impression.”
“Overall coordination of the project is carried out by the current Director General of the Ministry of Public Works under the supervision of the Minister. To address the technical challenges that arose during implementation, designated coordinators were appointed, while regular communication and meetings are held with the five Metropolitan School Boards to monitor progress, coordinate efforts, and resolve any issues that arise. At the same time, the initial decentralized bidding process through the School Boards evolved, in collaboration with the General Accounting Office and the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education, with the introduction of the Dynamic Procurement System, which has since been used by the School Boards under the guidance of the General Accounting Office. For all financial matters and the project budget, the recommendations of the General Accounting Office of the Republic were followed. The necessary appropriations have been provided for in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s budget, and payments to the School Boards are made in accordance with the project’s progress. “The relevant data are available from the Ministry’s Accounting Office,” notes the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.
Regarding the “Guide for the Installation of Air Conditioning Systems in School Buildings” and the Dynamic Procurement System, the relevant issues, according to the Ministry of Education, “have been addressed in detail in the Ministry’s letters to the Auditor General of the Republic dated June 10 and June 23, 2026. The specifications also include the necessary provisions for the maintenance of the systems.”
The current situation, the Ministry of Public Works and Energy responds, “is clear. There is a political decision, there is an overarching goal, there is funding, and there is work underway throughout Cyprus. Thousands of air conditioning units have already been installed, many are fully operational, and work continues. The Ministry of Education and Culture systematically updates the data through the School Boards and the schools themselves, so that progress can be continuously monitored and the public can be informed transparently and based on actual data. The Audit Office’s report will be utilized as part of the ongoing evaluation and improvement of the project’s implementation.”
“The goal remains unchanged: for all public schools to have air conditioning, with the necessary infrastructure and full safety for the school community. The project is moving forward, the results are already visible and measurable, and its implementation is continuing consistently until its completion,” the announcement concludes.
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