France’s schools are in crisis as a heatwave grips the country, with over 780 institutions closing or adjusting schedules—yet the deeper problem is a systemic failure to adapt to climate change.
As of Friday, June 19, 2026, France faces its most severe heatwave of the year, with 53 departments under orange alerts for extreme temperatures and a red alert expected for Sunday and Monday. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that 784 schools nationwide have either shut down or adjusted schedules to cope with temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F). Yet while officials scramble to respond, experts warn the real issue is the country’s stubborn refusal to invest in long-term solutions—like widespread school air conditioning—despite mounting evidence that climate change is making such heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Why 784 Schools Are Closing—and What It Reveals About France’s Climate Gap
France’s education system is buckling under the heat. According to the Ministry of Education, 784 schools—ranging from primary to secondary—have either closed entirely or adjusted schedules to avoid exposing students and teachers to dangerous conditions. The move comes as temperatures soar across the country, with 53 departments under orange alerts and a red alert looming for Sunday and Monday, per RTL’s live updates. The decision reflects a growing recognition that France’s schools, built decades ago without climate resilience in mind, are ill-equipped to handle modern heatwaves.
The closures are not evenly distributed. In the Occitanie region, 234 schools have shut down, while Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) reports 198 closures, according to regional education authorities. The Académie de Nice alone has canceled in-person classes for 147 schools, with officials citing “unacceptable working conditions” for teachers. Meanwhile, in Paris, only 12 schools have closed, but 45 have adjusted schedules, including staggered start times and shortened school days.
But the closures are only a stopgap. The deeper issue, as laid out by educators and climate analysts, is that France’s schools remain woefully under-climatized—despite the fact that offices and commercial buildings have long enjoyed widespread cooling systems. Only 7% of school surfaces are climatized, compared to 64% in office buildings, according to a 2021 report by the Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe), cited by France Info. The disparity isn’t just a matter of comfort—it’s a public health risk. Studies show that prolonged exposure to high temperatures in unventilated spaces can impair cognitive function, particularly in children.
“Je sais qu’elle peut susciter des critiques, mais on peut travailler de façon sereine avec maximum 24°C.”
— Thierry Pajot, secretary-general of the Syndicat des directeurs et directrices d’école, speaking to France Info
Thierry Pajot, a school director in Nice, is one of the few educators lucky enough to have air conditioning in his classrooms—an exception, not the rule. His school maintains temperatures at a tolerable 24°C, but such luxury is rare. In most of France, schools rely on outdated ventilation or, at best, spotty mobile air conditioning units that fail to cool entire buildings. The result? Teachers and students alike are left battling heat exhaustion during exams and daily lessons.
Pajot’s school is one of only 12% of schools in PACA with any form of climatization, according to a 2025 audit by the Académie de Nice. The rest depend on fans, open windows (which pose security risks), or no cooling at all. In Lyon, where temperatures hit 38°C on June 18, the city’s education department reported that 37 schools had to cancel outdoor recess due to asphalt temperatures exceeding 50°C. Meanwhile, in Toulouse, teachers have begun using wet towels and cooling vests for students, measures that Education Nationale has described as “temporary and insufficient.”
Beyond physical discomfort, the heat is taking a toll on academic performance. A 2023 study by the French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) found that students in non-climatized schools scored 12% lower on standardized tests during heatwaves compared to those in cooler environments. The impact is particularly severe for primary school children, whose cognitive development is more sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Exam Chaos: How the Heatwave Is Disrupting the Baccalauréat
The timing of this heatwave couldn’t be worse. France’s grand oral exams for the baccalauréat—scheduled for June 22 and 23—are now at risk. The Ministry of Education has already announced that 4,000 candidates in Poitiers will see their exams postponed by a week, a move that mirrors broader disruptions across the country. Le Figaro reports that schools are scrambling to find cooler spaces, with some converting gymnasiums into temporary classrooms or canceling outdoor activities entirely.
In Bordeaux, the Académie de Bordeaux has moved 1,200 exam sessions to libraries and community centers equipped with air conditioning. However, officials warn that these spaces are not designed for large groups, raising concerns about overcrowding and hygiene. Meanwhile, in Marseille, the Académie d’Aix-Marseille has suspended all in-person exams for students in 18 high schools deemed “high-risk” due to poor ventilation.
Yet the problem extends beyond scheduling. In 2025, over 2,000 schools shut down or adjusted operations during heatwaves in June and July, according to the Ministry of Education. The trend is accelerating as climate models predict more frequent and severe heatwaves—yet France’s schools remain stuck in a cycle of reactive, short-term fixes. “Il suffit de regarder l’état des comptes pour comprendre que ce n’est pas possible,” said Pierre-Henri Desmettre, mayor of Templemars, who estimates his town has already spent €230,000 on heat-related school adaptations in the past four years—money that could have gone toward actual climate-proofing.
Desmettre’s comments reflect a broader financial strain on municipalities. In Nord-Pas-de-Calais, where only 3% of schools have climatization, local officials have diverted funds from school maintenance budgets to purchase portable cooling units. The Syndicat des maires de France (SMF) has warned that without central government support, 78% of municipalities will be unable to afford permanent climatization solutions.
Legal challenges are also emerging. In Montpellier, parents of students at the Lycée Joffre have filed a complaint with the Defenseur des droits (France’s human rights ombudsman), arguing that the school’s failure to provide adequate cooling violates their children’s right to a safe learning environment. The case is still under review, but it highlights the growing tension between educational obligations and climate preparedness.
The Political and Financial Barriers to Cooling Schools
The lack of air conditioning isn’t just a technical oversight—it’s a political and financial choice. Schools in France are owned by local governments (municipalities for primary schools, departments for middle schools, and regions for high schools), meaning climate investments require coordination across hundreds of jurisdictions. The result? A patchwork approach where wealthy regions like Corsica or the South of France can afford limited climatization, while poorer areas in the North struggle even to install basic ventilation.
Clément Gaillard, an urbanist quoted by France Info, points out that even when climatization is installed, it’s often selective. “A Ajaccio, il y en a plein. Mais souvent, on ne va climatiser que certaines salles,” he says, noting that schools prioritize cafeterias or administrative offices over classrooms. The reasoning? Cost. A single climatization system can run €160,000–€170,000 per school, a figure that’s prohibitive for many municipalities already stretched thin by budget constraints.
Gaillard’s observations are backed by data from the Caisse des dépôts, which found that only 15% of school renovation projects in the past five years included any climate-adaptation measures. The majority of funds have gone toward digital infrastructure and security upgrades, with climatization often deemed a “luxury” rather than a necessity.
The irony is that France has the resources to act—but the political will is lacking. While businesses and public offices enjoy widespread climatization, schools are treated as an afterthought. The Ademe report highlights that only 7% of school surfaces are climatized, a figure that pales in comparison to the 64% of office buildings. The discrepancy isn’t just about comfort; it’s about equity. Students in wealthier areas have a better chance of escaping the heat, while those in poorer districts suffer in silence.
Political divisions further complicate progress. The Écologistes party has proposed a €5 billion national fund to climatize all schools by 2030, but the plan has been blocked by the Renaissance government, which argues that local autonomy should determine spending priorities. Meanwhile, the Rassemblement National (RN) has criticized the lack of climatization as a “failure of the state,” while the La France Insoumise (LFI) faction demands mandatory national standards for school cooling.
Even when funds are allocated, bureaucratic hurdles slow implementation. In Toulon, the Académie de Nice approved €800,000 for climatization in 2024, but only €120,000 has been spent due to delays in public procurement processes. Teachers’ unions, including the SNES-FSU and SE-Unsa, have accused officials of “chronic underfunding” and called for emergency measures.
What Happens Next? The Heatwave—and the Bigger Crisis Ahead
The immediate response to this heatwave is clear: more school closures, exam postponements, and last-minute adaptations. But the long-term solution requires a reckoning with France’s climate vulnerability. Experts warn that without significant investment in school climatization, the country risks repeating this crisis year after year—as heatwaves become longer, hotter, and more frequent.
Laurent Nuñez, France’s meteorologist, has already warned that a red alert is “very probable” for Sunday and Monday, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C in some regions. The question isn’t just whether schools can handle this heatwave—but whether France is prepared for the next one. With 2026 on track to be one of the hottest years on record, the answer so far is a resounding no.
For now, parents are left with a difficult choice: send their children to school in sweltering conditions or risk disciplinary action for keeping them home. The Ministry of Education has made it clear that there is no legal right to keep children out of school due to heat, leaving families in a bind. Yet as temperatures continue to rise, the pressure on officials to act will only grow.
The real test isn’t just surviving this heatwave—it’s whether France will finally treat its schools as a priority in the fight against climate change. The European Union’s Green Deal requires member states to integrate climate resilience into public infrastructure by 2030, but France’s schools remain an afterthought. Meanwhile, Germany, Spain, and Italy have already launched national school climatization programs, with Germany spending €3.2 billion annually on cooling and insulation.
In France, the Ministry of Education has pledged to “accelerate” climatization projects, but concrete steps remain vague. The 2026 budget includes €300 million for school renovations, but only 10% is earmarked for climate adaptations. Critics argue this is “far too little, too late.”
One thing is certain: without urgent action, the next heatwave will find France’s schools just as unprepared. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that by 2050, heat-related school closures in Europe could exceed 10 million days annually. For France, the question is no longer if this crisis will repeat—but how soon.
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