The exceptional heat wave continues in Calabria. To protect the health of students and school staff, the mayor of Catanzaro Nicola Fiorita has signed a contingent and urgent ordinance which provides for the early closure of schools at 1pm, starting from Monday 14th until Saturday 19th September.
The provision, adopted as a precaution to protect public health, applies to all public institutions in the municipal area of all levels: from nursery, primary and secondary schools (first and second level) to educational services for children.
The decision and discussion with school directors
The tightening of timetables is not an improvised choice, but the result of a summit held on 7 September at the Department of Public Education. On that occasion, the managers of the city’s comprehensive schools had raised a clear alarm on the thermo-hygrometric conditions of the classrooms, which in most cases lack cooling systems or adequate air exchange.
With temperatures well above seasonal averages in the central hours of the day, prolonged stay at the desks beyond 1pm would have represented a real risk of thermal discomfort and illness for students and teachers.
The operational provisions and the impact on services
Strict stop at 1.00 pm: All teaching and educational activities must end no later than 1.00 pm on the lesson days included in the September 14-19 window.
Communications to families: It will be the responsibility of the School Directors to promptly notify parents and organize safe outings, ensuring the usual supervision of minors until they are returned to authorized guardians.
The ordinance, immediately enforceable, has already been notified to the Prefecture of Catanzaro, the Regional School Office, the ASP and the Local Police. The transport company AMC SpA has also been notified, which will have to reschedule the city bus routes to reschedule them according to the early exit times.