Four schools in Tarragona without air conditioning: complaints and ongoing investigation
The classrooms of four schools in Tarragona are close to hell when summer arrives. The teaching staff denounce that the temperature conditions are so extreme that they violate their labor rights.
And this does not only affect the teachers, but also the students, who suffer to learn in this oven.
The municipal group En Comú Podem has brought this case to the Labor Inspectorate, which now has nine months to open a file and propose a solution to the Generalitat. The complaint is based on the occupational risk prevention law, since, paradoxically, there is no Catalan or state regulation that controls the temperature for children.
The complaint about the lack of air conditioning in schools
The affected centers and the origin of the complaint
Four schools in Tarragona suffer from the lack of proper air conditioning in the classrooms. The teachers affirm that the high temperatures hinder daily work and put occupational health at risk. The actual conditions contrast with the comfort promises that educational spaces should guarantee.
The legal basis of the complaint
The spokesperson of En Comú Podem, Jordi Collado, denounces that the occupational risk prevention law protects teachers but does not regulate conditions for children. This gap causes the situation to drag on without a solution until the Labor Inspectorate takes on the file and urges the Generalitat to act.
Impact on teachers and students
Violated labor conditions
The high temperatures cause an unbearable work situation for the teaching staff. It is impossible to maintain concentration and teaching quality when the thermometer rises uncontrollably. This can imply health risks and a feeling of institutional abandonment.
Well-being and learning of the students
If the teachers are suffering, the children cannot perform. The classrooms resemble more a sauna than a space to learn. This directly affects the students’ attention capacity and motivation, with the risk that it translates into worse educational results.
Institutional response and case follow-up
Procedure of the Labor Inspectorate
The Labor Inspectorate now has the ball in its court. It has a maximum of nine months to investigate and determine whether the Generalitat must act to guarantee decent conditions at school. Opening a file is a step that can trigger concrete measures.
Expectations and future steps
There is great expectation among the educational community. Families and teachers want to see real changes, not just promises. The Generalitat will be pressured to respond with investments and reforms to prevent this situation from perpetuating season after season.
Perhaps now that the heat is at the doorstep, someone will realize that the problem is not solved by opening windows. Or maybe not.
Source of the article: Editorial | ACN
