COS Cut: Air-Conditioning in Every Classroom (432w)
Sir, last year, I asked the Minister about thermal inequality in school classrooms. I cited research that each degree of temperature increase reduces learning by one to two percent — with the largest effects on lower-income students. The Minister acknowledged it. He listed measures: cool paint, faster fans, PE attire, mixed-mode air-conditioning for halls. For classrooms: "continue to explore."
If an unfair learning gap is forming, can we afford to wait?
Every MOE school is already air-conditioned. Computer labs, science labs, libraries, lecture theatres, staff rooms, admin offices — all air-conditioned. The Ministry is now installing mixed-mode air-conditioning in school halls. The electrical infrastructure is there. The condensers are there. The maintenance contracts are there. The only rooms without air-conditioning are the classrooms — where 420,000 children spend most of their day.
We should extend aircon to the rooms that matter most.
A primary school teacher told me: by 8:30 in the morning, classrooms are already unbearably hot and stuffy. Fans just circulate hot air. Children cannot sit still. They ask to go to the toilet just to escape. This is not even midday — just first period.
An NUS study in Building and Environment found that cognitive performance in Singapore's fan-ventilated classrooms drops 9 percent in slightly warm conditions, and 18 percent in warm conditions. There is no temperature standard for classrooms. To avoid thermal inequality, we should set a temperature standard that ensures an optimal cognitive environment for all our children.
In 2023, the Government set up the Mercury Taskforce to respond to extreme heat. Under that plan, community centres and indoor sports halls become air-conditioned cooling spaces for the public. But for schools: reduce outdoor activities, relax dress code, send children home. We will air-condition community centres so adults can gather. But not classrooms — we close the school instead.
International schools, independent schools, they have air-conditioned classrooms. Neighbourhood schools have ceiling fans. The children who can least afford the learning penalty are the ones paying it.
Capital cost: 70 to 90 million dollars for all 12,400 classrooms — less than one percent of MOE's budget, paid once. On running costs: 130 schools already have rooftop solar under SolarNova. Expanding this to all schools would offset the additional electricity.
I’m not asking to switch on aircon all the time, I’m asking to set a target temperature, and have the option to switch aircon on when the thermostat exceeds it.
Sir, two questions. Will MOE establish indoor temperature standards for classrooms? And will MOE commit to a timeline for a phased programme - beginning with primary schools - to install mixed-mode air-conditioning in all classroom
