Heatwave plan announced for high schools

The Occitanie Region has introduced a "heatwave plan" to adapt high schools to increasing temperatures, following several heat episodes that caused suspended classes and overheated classrooms. The plan was announced by President Carole Delga in Montpellier on October 13.

Funding and timeline for school improvements

The plan is funded with 10 million euros and aims to carry out improvements in 126 to 150 high schools before the summer of 2027. The interventions include air circulators, solar protections, air conditioning systems, UV-blocking films on windows, and renovations to improve nighttime ventilation. The first projects are expected to start by the end of the year.

Recent heat episodes and their impact

The plan follows heat episodes starting in May and early September, during which several high schools in the Hérault and Gard departments suspended classes for three days. Delga noted that 34 °C in Montpellier in September was unprecedented and that the number of heatwave days had doubled in one year.

Involving students in the process

The Region has committed to involving students in the decision-making process, with proposed works presented to students in each affected high school to ensure they meet their needs. Delga acknowledged the need to change the way of communicating with youth during the crisis, aligning with the demands of the current student movement in France, especially in Montpellier.

Proposed changes to baccalaureate exams

Delga also proposed adapting the baccalaureate schedule to extreme heat, suggesting that exams take place exclusively in the morning. She criticized the financial support provided to local authorities, noting that while three quarters of high schools in Occitanie have already been renovated, new investments remain necessary. She highlighted a decrease of 1.7 billion euros in the State's allocations to the Regions over two years and a planned reduction of one billion euros in the 2027 budget proposal.