Question 16647 — teaching

Summary

Ms. Gabrielle Cathala questions the Minister of National Education about the learning conditions of students during periods of high heat. The average temperature on the Earth's surface continues to increase, reaching the threshold of 1.5°C in 4 years, an increase initially forecast for 2050. Currently, in France, temperatures vary between 8°C and 12°C above seasonal norms. Heat episodes will become more and more more frequent and longer: it is therefore essential to meet these needs now. In classrooms, classes start with just over 30°C in the morning and can end at over 40°C. A temperature above 30°C presents a health hazard according to the National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS). School infrastructures are, for the most part, poorly laid out, with large bay windows often without curtains, an absence of vegetation in the playgrounds, a lack of access to water and a lack of ventilation, despite the various renovation programs. Education staff have been warning for several years about these problems which can dangerously affect children, but national responses are insufficient. There is a lack of government ambition to renovate schools and other public service places, again and again neglecting the children. On May 28 and 29, 2026, 194,328 students took their professional baccalaureate in disastrous conditions. The temperatures were very high in the examination rooms, which were unsuitable for these heatwave episodes: 34°C in Paris, 33°C in Lyon, 36°C in Bordeaux. Several physical accidents took place: headaches, nosebleeds... Cases of fainting could even be recorded in the south of France. Staying focused for several hours in a row in high heat is very difficult, if not impossible. The exam lasted the whole day, unlike the final years in the general and technological sectors, whose tests have been adapted and only take place in the morning, from June 15 to 18, 2026. This adaptation reflects a stigmatizing inequality towards students in the professional sector, who are already quite advanced with the finger. Social inequality is also visible in this moment of intense heat: renovations of school buildings are organized by local authorities. A community that is wealthier than another will therefore be able to adapt better to the heat. The minister expressed on several channels his wish to only have exams taken in the morning but this so-called solution, already in place since last year in several establishments, is insufficient in relation to the working conditions of students and education staff. We must therefore take clear and useful measures to deal with these distressing temperatures. For example, prioritize ventilation and water distribution during tests, trivialize classes and tests after a certain temperature has been exceeded, accelerate renovations of school buildings and take into account the question of global warming for the next built establishments. This is why the MP questions the Minister about the measures he intends to put in place for the well-being and safety of students and education staff, particularly during exam periods. She asks him if he plans to involve the national education inspectorate to produce an exhaustive report on incidents in classes due to high heat. Finally, she asks him more broadly if the Government intends to respect the Paris agreements in order to limit the consequences of global warming.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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