Quang Ninh Province to Install Free Air Conditioners in Public Schools

Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam has decided to install air conditioners free of charge in all classrooms of its public schools to improve the educational environment. This is a groundbreaking initiative where the costs of purchasing, installing, and operating air conditioners, currently borne by parents, will be covered by the provincial budget. According to Dinh Ngoc Son, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Education and Training, public schools in the province currently have approximately 17,000 air conditioners, with 10,000 installed in classrooms. Although the classroom air conditioner installation rate has reached about 70% (an average of 2 units per classroom), the development is lagging in schools located in mountainous areas, islands, and disadvantaged regions, creating disparities. To address this situation, the installation of 12,000 new units is planned for the future. On the other hand, the increasing electricity consumption and costs associated with air conditioner operation have become a significant challenge. Last year, schools in the province paid over 44 billion VND (approximately $1.8 million USD) for electricity, consuming more than 19.5 million kWh. In the first five months of this year alone, they consumed over 10.7 million kWh and incurred electricity costs of 24.3 billion VND (approximately $1 million USD). A large portion of these expenses has been covered by parents. To tackle this issue, Quang Ninh Province is surveying and evaluating the feasibility of installing rooftop solar power systems in public schools by 2023. Schools with large student populations and stable facilities are expected to be prioritized. This policy of providing free air conditioners for public schools is a first for Quang Ninh Province. Currently, in many public schools across Vietnam, classroom air conditioners are not covered by the budget, and their purchase, installation, and electricity costs are typically covered by parental contributions.