As Antigua and Barbuda and other parts of the world endure heat waves over the past several weeks, Minister of Education Daryll Matthew said the ministry now has to give serious consideration to installing air conditioning units in schools across the country.
Speaking on the ‘Point in the Morning’ radio programme, Matthew said the ministry must now be concerned about the hot and humid classroom conditions under which the students are asked to study.
He noted that not long ago, this was not a consideration, but with the impact of climate change affecting weather systems the world over, education officials must
now give serious thought to students’ comfort in the classroom.
“We, as a nation, felt that if it got hot, all that was needed was to put fans in the classrooms and you are okay. Now the fans are blowing hot air and what is required is a proper climate control environment, which are air conditioning units
in our classrooms. However, that poses a problem, as many of our school buildings are old, having been constructed 40 to 50 years ago.
Putting a/c’s in these buildings leads to another problem; the wiring in these buildings which are not adequate to accommodate a/c units,” he explained.
Minister Matthew said it is going to require a multi-discipline approach to re-wire the school buildings across the country, and this would come at a high cost.
He added that anyone who recently built a house and made note of the cost to do the
wiring would have an appreciation of the anticipated cost associated with a project of this size.
“It is not an overnight ‘quick fix,’ but it is definitely something that we have placed on our agenda, that we must undertake to ensure so our students can learn and be taught in a comfortable environment,” he remarked. POINTE XPRESS
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So perhaps your headline should be Air Conditioning units to be installed in Antigua schools one day, maybe…..
@ Wad Man
You are so correct……I would go further and state that that is a fancy like all other promises from now until the by-election.
This WILL NEVER EVER HAPPEN under the ABLP, because they are STONE DEAD BROKE.
Minister Matthews, here’s two easy answers to solving and implementing air conditioning into schools across the nation:
THE UNACCOUNTABLE NAMCO AND CIP MONIES 💰💰
You can have that suggestion for free boss … 🤜🏽🤛🏽
Excellent initiative. Then there would be the maintenance and upkeep issue which I am sure would be like all the other things that require regular maintenance but sadly lacking. I want to be hopeful but I can’t.
What happen to the hospital to receive AC so ppl can stop bringing their own fans? Very interesting priorities.
Start with the schools which has adequate wiring. Simple. One by one. The schools can also use the Mod day money to purchase SOME of the units. Education Levy, and each MP can purchase at least 10 units each with constituency funds.
Another idea would be to forego the ham and turkey this christmas and ship AC units in the containers instead for all the schools including Barbuda. I dont mind eating fish this Christmas. Children come first.
I would surely and only believed it when I see it with my eyes.Schools in Antigua getting air conditioners installed.Those Politicians always come on radio with their outlandish plans.Then not one damn thing happens.Take for example,the sprucing up of St.Johns,the finishing of the Cades Bay Bridge,the finishing of the Magistrate Court on High Street.Sweet sounding,nothings.My advise to all,let your words be soft and sweet.Just in case you have to eat them.
Listen people, not saying the school’s don’t need some sort of comfort but this clown is really speaking from a creative enrichment standpoint.
Don’t be fooled, that’s all they know.
Mr.Minister the money you guys are wasting in St.Mary’s South can surely air condition all the southern schools. Don’t talk about the big party you will be having on 17th. After all that waste Shug will return to Parliament with a wider margin.
And where would this broke government get the money from to both install and maintain these units over the years?
This government is broke..why do you think they were so desperate to sell the Russian boat, or get caught up in scandalous Nigerian businesses men by trafficking criminals for money?
Only broke desperate people do desperate things, and this government is both.
All they have is a bunch of promise’s. I’m not even a staunch politician, but enough is enough with this broken system, and what keep pissing people off is their audacity to keep lying to people.
No way forward with this Government Antiguans, I said it a long time ago,way before the election, and I’ll say it again.
When a person continuously cheats on you, are you going to keep going back to that person, no you don’t, and Antiguans have made a huge mistake by going back to this cheating salacious government.
“When a person continously cheats …”
Nice analogy about the ABLP government @Islanman26 👍🏾
A competent government would publish their detailed plan of action for all to see. There would initially be complete specifications for the square footage to be cooled at each educational establishment. These requirements would be put out for tenders to Supply, install, and maintain the equipment needed. The bids will determine the budget requirements to complete the project. The availability of treasury funds will then determine the optimum timeline on which the installations can be carried out. Gaston Browne will you please show us that you are competent to institute an actual plan of action instead of just kicking this football down the road as usually happens in Sunny Antigua.
Hope the wireing in the schools can support the air conditioners. Otherwise, a burn down they go burn down the schools. We know this government like to put the horse before the cart. Anyway we will still be waiting for these conditioners ten years from now. People can’t even get reliable electricity.
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