Australia Weather News

Longer and hotter summers are creating trying conditions in Queensland classrooms. - ABC

Many Queensland school students still sweat it out in steamy classrooms across the state, but this could change under a proposal to move the dates for the summer holidays.

Kevin Bates, president of the Queensland Teachers Union, said its proposal was about rethinking school terms until all classrooms could be air-conditioned.

"We want to recognise that our classrooms, with the way the climate is changing, are getting hotter in the summer months," he told ABC Radio Brisbane's Craig Zonca.

"It makes it really tough for kids to learn.

"In February this year we took the temperature inside some of the classrooms in Ipswich and it was up around 42 degrees.

"At that temperature it's a situation where children really can't learn."

Public schools currently finish on December 14 and return on January 22. Under the new proposal, the Christmas break would be from December 22 to February 5.

"If we can rethink the school terms to create a greater leeway between the warmest weather and when people are starting school, we should consider this as an option until we can air-condition every classroom," Mr Bates said.

"Really, we want to get air conditioning in classrooms and that means students can learn regardless of the time of the year."

Students, teachers sweaty and red-faced

Callers to ABC Radio Brisbane had mixed opinions on the date change.

"My kid's school isn't air-conditioned and I feel for the students and teachers as I find February the hottest month. If we can change the school date, why not?" —Catherine from Margate

"It's not impossible to learn in 42-degree heat, it's just uncomfortable. Installing air conditioning will just make global warming worse." —Scott from Brisbane

"I don't see why it can't be changed as it makes sense, I think. When the kids come home they are sweaty and red-faced, and the teachers look like that too. They should move it back to March." —Katheryn from West End

Mr Bates said although air conditioning was an expensive process, some schools had looked at ways to combat the expense.

"Schools and the Government have made a step towards the process by putting solar panels on roofs to ensure they can afford to run the air conditioning if it's installed," he said.

"Many schools are looking at it from a local perspective and using the flexibility built into the award of teachers to move the start and finish of the school day to get better learning times in the cooler part of the day.

"There are many models in place around the nation."

Early days for proposed dates

Although previous state governments had promised air conditioning in all classrooms in Queensland, Mr Bates said promises were not enough.

"We would be grateful if someone in government was ready to deliver on that promise, but promises aren't something we commit to these days," he said.

"We want to see commitments in writing, making it very clear that an actual outcome would be delivered, not just a plan."

He said the proposal to move holiday dates was still in the early planning phase.

"We would talk to our members to try and get a consensus about what our best plan is," Mr Bates said.

"For the Government, there's many stakeholders that need to be included as well as parents and students.

"Our view is that if the air-conditioning option is off the table in the short term due to expenses, then we should explore other options to make it better for students in our classrooms."

Education Minister Grace Grace said the Government's Cooler Schools policy was ensuring air conditioning was in classrooms in the hottest parts of Queensland.

"We've allocated $221 million for air conditioning in Queensland state schools and we will continue to work with schools and P&Cs to assist with air conditioning and classroom cooling measures."

ABC