The 83 schools in Nîmes try tirelessly to drop the mercury.
With 35 degrees from eleven o’clock, the thirteen thousand schoolchildren Nîmes are waiting for only one thing: the last ringing of July 4, the start of their summer vacation. City schools have been alerting to teaching conditions degraded by strong heat conditions for two weeks. Charles-Martel, located in the center of Nîmes, seems to be one of the most affected. “”Just Thursday last Thursday, it was 30 degrees in the morning in the classes“Indicates an internal source.”At night we have to close the windows, so impossible to refresh the classes and because of this we reach 32 degrees or even 36 upstairs“, far from the 30 degrees recommended by the National Institute for Research and Security (INRS). Without insulation and very exposed to the sun, the 250 students divided into ten classes can only benefit from a few fans.
“Children’s organizations are tired”
Table of Contents
Before the COVID, the municipality had proposed as a solution a “refuge zone” in each establishment. The principle: two rooms common to the air conditioned school where schoolchildren can cool off. Only, in Charles-Martel, the preparation of the meal makes it impossible to access the morning to avoid hot weather. “”And in the afternoon, when we have access to it, the children do not remain in place so little benefit from it“, We note at school. Where we do not forget to mention that this problem is regularly reported to the municipality but that no solution is provided. A case far from being isolated and which is shared by other public establishments Nîmes.
Establishments adapt
Asked about the heat wave, Jean-Marc Campllo, assistant in charge of the energy renovation of buildings, remains aware of the challenge that this represents. “”We have a budget of € 4 million per year allocated to the renovation and the maintenance of school infrastructure. It is sure that with 83 schools, this represents a challenge for the municipality. All schools require improvements and it’s normal but we try to do our maximum each time, starting with the most dilapidated“. On the side of the institution of Alzon, the director Yvan Lachaud underlines their permanent vigilance from the start of the first heat.”Today, ten rooms out of seventy are air-conditioned. Even if kindergarten is not completely so, the nap and catering space remain converted“.
“Before, it was really untenable”
On the Hauts de Nîmes, at the Cigale primary school, we try to positivate despite the conditions. “”We also know the conditions of the Armand-Barbès primary school and I can tell you that it is worse, especially because of the tar in the central courtyard“, add an anonymous source. Here, the Court is greater and remains a little more eccentric of city heat. And since the renovation of the external insulation of three years ago, the staff consider themselves lucky, even privileged, compared to other establishments.”Before, it was really an untenable situation“He says. Back inside, in the seven classes of around twenty-five students, the curtains are closed daily and three fans try to refresh the room. As an alternative solution, the school has authorized personal bottles, misty and water bins for kindergarten for a week.
The private also accuses the blow
On the side of the private establishment of Alzon, parents and students also show a certain annoyance. “”I have to take rest days to prevent my child from being too hot“, Testifies Julia. Her child has been registered for more than five years in the establishment and for the past few weeks, acting as daycare and not courses, she prefers to keep him at home.”When the first heat arrives, I can see that my child is more tired than usual“, She adds. With other parents of students, she has been calling for a few years air conditioning in primary school and deplores”investments not going for this cause“.
Nineteen hours, schoolchildren returned home and still makes 35 degrees in the streets of Nîmes, temperatures that climate change will force us to manage.
