LNP’s $1.5bn promise for air-conditioning in every state school

The LNP has announced it would commit $1.5 billion to air-condition every state school in Queensland if elected. But the Queensland Teachers’ Union said it wouldn’t make its decisions based on promises, considering the LNP’s past performance.

Teachers and students are preparing to return to the classroom next week, where they’ll face scorching temperatures.

THE Liberal National Party (LNP) has announced it would commit $1.5 billion to air-condition every state school in Queensland if elected.

The announcement comes a week before the end of school holidays, when students and teachers are set to face scorching temperatures back in the classrooms.

“We know this is a huge commitment but we think this is worth it because we know that cool kids are smart kids,” Ms Frecklington said at Parliament House on Monday.

Ms Frecklington said new air conditioners would be rolled out across two terms (government not school terms) if the LNP were elected at the next state election.

The LNP Leader called on the Palaszczuk Government to consider her plan.

“In some classrooms temperatures get up to about 45 degrees. I call on the Premier to go visit one of these schools … go into the classroom and see how it feels,” Ms Frecklington said.

Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) president Kevin Bates told The Courier-Mail he hopes to see more actions by politicians to help promote better climate-controlled classrooms.

Mr Bates said: “We acknowledge that the LNP have made a commitment if elected at the next state election to deliver air-conditioning in all state schools. The reality is it was an LNP decision when they were in last government where they decided it was too expensive to do that and chose not to.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington made the announcement on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We don’t make our decisions based on promises but what actions people have taken. We will be happy to welcome proper climate control in our schools regardless of which political party delivers it. We just need our students to have the best learning environment and we need that delivered sooner rather than later,” he added.

Mr Bates said better climate control can be enforced without air conditioning which is often a more expensive option to install and maintain especially in some older classrooms.

Climate control refers to a range of engineering solutions to provide cooling or heating in our classrooms to provide an optimal learning environment and includes exhaust fans and cost ventilation, according to the QTU president.

He warned that studies showed that temperatures over 28C having a negative impact on student learning. In a study commissioned by the QTU last year involving 1200 Queensland schools, it was found the average classroom temperature was 32C in the summer months — and one classroom recorded a staggering 49.5C.

“We need measures put in place to reduce the temperatures in our classrooms especially in the summer months to below 28C,” he said.

Originally published as LNP’s $1.5bn promise for air-conditioning in every state school