Heatwave to force widespread school closures across France

France will close 845 schools and secondary colleges on June 22 due to extreme heat, while a further 1,800 educational institutions will adjust schedules by sending students home in the second half of the day, Education Minister Édouard Geffray said during an interview on France 3.

“These 845 schools and colleges out of 60,000 educational establishments in France will either not receive students or will operate at a minimal level,” he said, adding that this measure applies mainly to departments placed under a red alert for heat danger, Le Figaro reports.

“Overall, we need a territorial response,” the minister said on June 21, stressing that “situations differ across regions.”

“First, there is a rule ensuring the continuity of public service delivery — this is a fundamental principle; second, there is a system of exceptions: as soon as the safety of staff or children may be at risk, the institution must be closed,” he added.

Separately, the Île-de-France region announced €1 million in emergency funding for 500 examination centres. The funds will be used to purchase water misting systems, fans, and other cooling equipment.

By Jeyhun Aghazada