Scorching Classrooms: Puerto Rico's Education Crisis Under Extreme Heat

With temperatures rising in Puerto Rico, students at a public school on Culebra island seek refuge from the oppressive heat. Despite possessing ceiling fans, the school struggles with insufficient ventilation due to energy-related issues.

As the island grapples with an energy crisis exacerbated by natural disasters, the educational facilities continue to suffer. Hurricane Maria and subsequent earthquakes left much of the school infrastructure damaged, slowing rebuilding efforts. Consequently, students and teachers often experience heat-related illnesses, impacting education quality.

Efforts to provide relief, such as fundraising for fans and adapting classes to cooler spaces, are hampered by inconsistent power supply. There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions in the face of growing demand for electricity and climate change repercussions.

(With inputs from agencies.)