A special report by Cyprus’ Audit Office has identified serious shortcomings in the installation of air conditioning in public schools, including issues with electrical safety, planning, coordination and costs.
On-site inspections were carried out at five schools that the Education Ministry had listed as completed, with outstanding work found at four. Inspectors found, among other issues, air-conditioning units that had been installed for nearly two years but remained unconnected, as well as makeshift and exposed electrical connections.
Progress varies significantly by School Board, from 86% in Larnaca to 20% in Nicosia.
In another case, an electrical panel circuit breaker tripped seven times in a single day. At some schools, air-conditioning units were operated on a rotating basis to reduce the risk of overloading. The Audit Office found that units had been put into operation before the final inspection, testing and certification of the electrical installations had been completed. According to the report, this poses risks to students and staff. The Audit Office recommends disconnecting units at schools where the required inspections have not been completed and investigating any potential responsibility.
By July 2026, work had been completed in 81 of the project’s 219 individual cases, or 37%. Electrical work remained outstanding in 79 cases, installation was under way in 52, six were awaiting inspection by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, and work had not begun in one case.
Progress varies significantly by School Board, from 86% in Larnaca to 20% in Nicosia. Recorded expenditure as of July stood at €9.82 million. The Audit Office identified cost overruns but was unable to determine their total amount due to inconsistencies in the available data. It also attributed some of the problems to inadequate initial coordination, limited technical staffing at School Boards and the absence of a detailed budget for each phase.
Source: Kathimerini Cyprus
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