Palma Schools Hit 37°C as Vox Rejects Air Conditioning

Palma Classrooms Reach 37°C: Vox Cites 'Culture of Effort'

Is it possible to teach with the thermometer at 37 degrees Celsius? In Palma, yes. Some classrooms reach this temperature, with readings ranging from 33 to 37 degrees, and the municipal group Vox opposes air conditioning in schools and institutes. Their stated reason fits in one sentence: 'we believe in the culture of effort.' Vox councilor Luis Acosta is among those involved in the exchange of statements, and the response he received from the city council was directly described as dismissive.

What is the legal temperature in a classroom?

No state regulation sets a specific maximum for classrooms, but Royal Decree 486/1997, of April 14, establishes temperatures between 17 and 27°C for premises where sedentary work typical of offices or similar is carried out. This is the data supporting the most common argument: it is impossible to study at 37 degrees, and indeed, it is argued that it is illegal. The text regulates workplaces, so applying it to a school is an interpretation: reasonable for some, forced for others. Hence the quickest response: teachers refusing to work under such conditions.

1,000 Euro Fans vs. Awnings and Insulation

Schools are requesting passive measures: awnings, blinds, thermal insulation improvements, and more vegetation to lower temperatures and energy consumption. The immediate alternative, fans, is estimated at around 1,000 euros per school. In contrast, some argue that the solution is not appliances but more significant reforms that better insulate the building: more expensive initially, more profitable later. A third perspective considers the furniture, with schools still using equipment from 1973/78, broken blinds, doors that don't close, and buildings without elevators.

Who Governs What in the Balearic Islands

The distribution of blame also has numbers. Vox holds 8 out of 59 seats in the Balearic Parliament, while the PSOE governed the islands between 2015 and 2023. Given these factors, attributing the state of the facilities to a single party requires first explaining how the budget has been invested over the last decade.

Ultimately, the culture of effort has undeniable merit: it is practiced much better at 37 degrees than at 22.