The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth is gradually moving forward with the installation of drinking water coolers in public schools, with the goal of equipping all school facilities, as stated by Minister of Education Athina Michaelidou in her response to a parliamentary question posed by Larnaca MP Prodromos Alambritis.
According to the response, the relevant policy began to be implemented during the 2025–2026 school year, with an annual expenditure of €130,000 in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s budget and a provision for the installation of air conditioners in 25 schools each year.
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Already, the Ministry, in collaboration with the School Boards, has announced the first tender for the installation of cooling units in 25 school facilities, with work expected to begin in September or October 2026. At the same time, preparations are underway for a second call for bids to install air conditioning units in an additional 25 schools during the 2026–2027 school year.
The selection of schools for the second phase will be made in consultation with the Chairs of the respective School Boards, taking into account the needs and specific circumstances of each school.
In response to Mr. Alambritis’s question regarding existing facilities, the Minister stated that air conditioners have been installed in a significant number of schools at the initiative of School Boards and Parent-Teacher Associations. These installations were carried out following approval by the Ministry of Education and under the condition that the prescribed technical, health, and operational standards be met.
Ms. Michailidou also notes that responsibility for monitoring the quality of the water provided to students, both in terms of temperature and compliance with health standards, lies with the School Boards.
According to the Minister, the installation of water coolers is part of part of the revised National Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development and the Green Transition 2030 and the broader policy of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs to create safe and climate-resilientschools.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education is providing all children with a reusable water bottle as part of the campaign “Which ‘P’ Do You Choose? The Environment or Plastic?”, with the goal of ensuring students stay properly hydrated and reducing the use of single-use plastics.
Source: KYPE
