Only 38 percent of the surveyed school buildings meet the legal ventilation standards, while winter is just around the corner. RIVM has drawn up ventilation standards to keep the risk of corona infections in the classroom as low as possible. The cabinet is making 360 million available for primary and secondary schools.
All 9331 school buildings in the Netherlands had to notify us by today whether the ventilation system in their school building is ‘corona proof’. Minister Arie Slob (Education) has specially set up a National Coordination Team for Ventilation in Schools (LCVS).
But not all schools are clear whether they have their affairs in order.
Nice air in the classroom
The results of 3,137 school buildings have now been received. At half of the schools, the investigation is still ongoing or could not be carried out yet.
The committee, headed by chairman Doekle Terpstra, finds that only 38 percent of the buildings (2678 locations) still meet the standards of pleasant air in the classroom. At least 11 percent of the schools do not pass yet; it therefore concerns hundreds of schools.
Make adjustments
Schools that have new buildings do relatively the best. Retrofitting old buildings is relatively expensive. Municipalities bear the greatest financial responsibility for this.
Which adjustments still need to be made to get everything red, differs per school. There is a manual that schools can use.
Required to make adjustments
Schools that do not yet meet the standards are obliged to address this, says Minister Slob. “Then students can concentrate well and teachers can do their work in a pleasant environment,” says the minister.
If a school does not get the ventilation in order, it is not the advice of the GGDs to close the school. Students in Siberian conditions are also not supposed to sit in class. “We are not going to put children with a scarf and a hat in the classroom. Enough concrete guidelines have been offered so that schools can guarantee that fresh environment”, said Terpstra.
Extra measures
For example, schools can take all kinds of simple measures themselves, such as opening windows and doors more often. And clean and check grids. Schools can also install a CO2 meter. “When the light turns red, a window can be opened.”
RIVM previously stated that ventilation is ‘necessary’ for a healthy indoor climate. “It also helps to limit the transmission of respiratory infections such as COVID-19”, according to the RIVM.
Other poll
The General Association of School Leaders also had a survey carried out: According to that survey, the ventilation in about half of all school buildings in the Netherlands does not or only partially meet the requirements in accordance with the Building Decree. That announced on the basis of a poll of 643 school directors.
“It certainly does not surprise us. Of course there are schools that are located in a beautiful or new building, but many schools have to make do with an old and outdated building,” said AVS chairman Petra van Haren.
