Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper): A school is facing heating issues, with one boiler broken and classrooms at 14°C. Parents were informed toddlers must stay home, while primary classes are relocated. The parent committee plans to address maintenance concerns at the municipal council meeting on November 20.

One of the school’s heating boilers has been broken for some time, and the problem became obvious after the autumn break when temperatures in a third of the classrooms were only around 14 degrees Celsius, making it too cold and uncomfortable for both students and teachers.

How will Molenbeek address the school heating crisis before November 20?

The repairs for the broken boiler are delayed because a special part is needed. The heating system is old, so a regular replacement part won’t work, it has to be custom-made to fit the old system. This customization is taking longer than expected, some parts of the school will still be without proper heating.

On the 6th of November, parents were informed that toddlers had to stay home due to heating problems. Some toddlers are now having lessons in the gym, and primary school classes are being held at another school nearby. A mobile boiler was supposed to be rented, but its arrival is still unknown. Parents are frustrated with the poor condition of the school buildings, saying that better maintenance could have prevented this issue. The parent committee plans to address this problem at the municipal council meeting on November 20, urging the municipality to focus on proper maintenance of the old infrastructure.