Teachers union raises alarms over proposed summer school hours, warning of burnout risks and diminished education quality during heatwave periods.
Teachers union in Gibraltar are pushing back against proposed extended summer school hours, calling the measures “unworkable” during peak heat months.
The Unite Education Branch sent official complaints about the matter to the Department of Education during this week.
The proposed program intends to prolong school classes from 3:30 PM through July and August.
The leaders of Unite maintain that most school buildings need proper cooling systems for afternoon hours.
The issue extends beyond comfort because it involves fundamental health risks according to Unite representative James Cortes.
The temperatures in Gibraltar surpass 35°C in summer afternoons as summer days reach this threshold frequently.
After conducting a hurried two-week snapshot of feedback teachers express their viewpoint that front-line staff positions received insufficient attention.
Staff members from the survey unanimously resisted the proposed changes with an 85% opposition rate.
Parents’ groups remain divided.
Despite changes to childcare hours getting support from some parents many others worry about deteriorating educational standards caused by hot temperatures in school classrooms.
School authorities maintain that this approach is needed to finish the curriculum.
Leaked documents show that air conditioning systems exist in only 12% of schools while the rest lack complete classroom coverage.
Before implementing any changes to the schedule the union insists that schools receive proper climate control installations.
The staff members plan to take industrial action unless their concerns receive adequate attention by June.
The latest early heatwave wave hits Gibraltar at a time when school staff confront each other to resolve their disagreement.
Meteorological reports indicate that 2025 may become the hottest recorded year for Gibraltar.
The current negotiations show promise for establishing future strategies regarding climate change adjustments in Mediterranean educational facilities.
