Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger has warned against restricting classes due to bottlenecks in the gas supply. “During the pandemic, I campaigned to include educational institutions in the critical infrastructure,” said the FDP politician to the “Rheinische Post”.
“Even now, special attention should be paid to them so that there are no teaching restrictions or even a cancellation of classes,” said the minister. That is the lesson from the pandemic-related school closures.
Potential energy savings should, of course, be used. The minister stressed that this was already a topic in many schools and universities. The head of the GEW education union, Maike Finnern, also told the newspaper that many schools have long been using energy sustainably and responsibly. However, many schools are also ailing, not built energy-efficiently, heating systems need to be modernized.
The education union GEW is also aware of the problem. “Many schools have long been dealing with energy sustainably and responsibly with energy saving concepts,” said GEW boss Maike Finnern. “But one thing is also certain: many schools are dilapidated, not built or renovated in an energy-efficient manner, many windows are broken or cannot be opened properly for quick ventilation, heating systems have to be modernized.” Finnern welcomed it as right that the “gas emergency plan for the Federal Republic Germany” schools as well as private households are among the protected customers who should be supplied with gas as a priority even in the emergency phase.
