WILLEMSTAD – The national budget does not include any structural funding for climate control in schools, and the government lacks a long-term policy to address extreme heat in educational buildings. This is one of the key conclusions of a recent investigation by the Algemene Rekenkamer Curaçao (ARC).
According to the Audit Chamber, there is currently insufficient insight into the total costs of heat mitigation in schools, which includes both the installation and operation of air conditioning systems. As a result, long-term planning and sustainable financing remain absent.
An inventory conducted as part of the study shows that approximately 90 school buildings together contain 2,204 rooms that should be equipped with air conditioning. The estimated investment required amounts to 24.9 million guilders. That figure could be reduced to around 16 million guilders if schools are clustered in the procurement and installation process. At present, only 42.7 percent of school rooms are actually equipped with air conditioning.
The ARC emphasizes that the financial challenge goes beyond initial purchase costs. Structural expenses such as maintenance, energy consumption and repairs must also be taken into account, but these recurring costs have not yet been included in the government budget. In addition, many school buildings first require construction-related upgrades, including repairs to windows, doors and electrical systems, before air conditioning units can be safely installed.
While the government has expressed its intention to invest in climate control in schools, the Audit Chamber notes that it remains unclear how the structural costs will be financed. As long as this is not formally arranged, the continuity of climate control measures will depend on incidental funding. According to the ARC, this creates a real risk that schools will remain insufficiently protected against extreme heat, with potential consequences for the learning environment and the well-being of students and staff.