Some Goulburn schools wait for air-conditioning in classrooms

While some Goulburn schools enjoy extensive air-conditioning, it isn't widespread in others.

A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said her primary school-aged children had arrived home after Friday's 41-degree temperature and had almost collapsed from the heat.

"They are sitting for over an hour in classrooms that are often hotter than the outside temperature," she said

"Children should have a right to learn. The lack of air-conditioning is a major concern."

The mother said she had heard of children collapsing at and after school from the heat.

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But the NSW Education Department said there were no reports of students collapsing or seeking medical attention in Goulburn's public schools as a result of the heat last week or during December.

A spokeswoman also said there was no set temperature at which schools closed.

"Releasing students early due to hot weather can be problematic for families and children could possibly be exposed to greater temperatures outside, and or in their homes," a spokeswoman said.

But teaching programs could be varied by using outdoor shade and facilities, providing iced snacks and drinks and limiting external physical activity.

The full extent of air-conditioning in the city's public schools is unclear. The Post contacted several institutions, whose principals did not return calls.

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NSW schools with and without air-con

Goulburn East and West public school over- utilised

In the first round of the State's Cooler Classrooms program in 2018, only Goulburn Public School and Goulburn High School were funded.

The Department spokeswoman said Goulburn West, North and South and Mulwaree High School had lodged applications for round two.

"The Department of Education is committed to delivering a quality, sustainable and cost effective program to ensure our students enjoy healthy and comfortable learning environments in thousands of classroom and library spaces at more than 900 schools across NSW," she said.

The program allocated $500m across five years. Each cooling system has to go through design, tender and construction.

At Yass High School, a parent of a prospective student, Bec Duncan, said it was alarming that "most of" the facility didn't have air-conditioning.

She was advised by the principal, Linda Langton, that while it was supposed to be in place by 2019, it was discovered the electrical system had to firstly undergo a major upgrade.

The Department spokeswoman said the school had received funding under the Cooler Classrooms program. Tenders had closed and construction would start "shortly after the project was awarded."

She said the timeframe was different at each school due to scope of works, heritage factors and the electrical capacity.

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Meantime, at Saint Joseph's catholic Primary School, air-conditioning has been progressively installed since 2006, secretary Julie Downey said.

"Every classroom, the library, break-out areas and the office have air-conditioning but the staff room does not," she said.

"The most important people at the school are the students and they are catered for."

In Friday's 41-degree heat, students were kept inside at lunchtime as a precaution.

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At Sts Peter and Paul's Primary School, principal Kathy Neely said all 10 classrooms and the library were air-conditioned. During excessively hot days, students had the option of staying inside.

"They are holding up okay," she said.

Trinity Catholic College had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.

The Post also sought comment from Goulburn MP, Wendy Tuckerman.

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