Majes students forced to study outdoors due to extreme heat in classrooms

In the Majes district of Caylloma, Arequipa, 64 preschool students from the I. E. I. Niño Salvador have been forced to attend classes in outdoor patios. This measure was taken because the school's prefabricated wooden modules with corrugated metal roofs reach extreme temperatures, creating conditions described as “ovens.”

Health issues have been reported among the children, including nosebleeds, blisters on the lips, drowsiness, and general malaise. Due to the heat, teachers have had to shorten school hours. The facility lacks electricity, preventing the use of fans, and the school does not own the land it occupies.

There are conflicting reports regarding the safety of the structures. While a Civil Defense report declared the classrooms uninhabitable due to structural deterioration and roof sinking, a subsequent report from UGEL La Joya claimed the environments had “regular habitability.”

The school director stated that requests for new infrastructure have been ongoing for four years. Although the project was prioritized in the 2024 Participatory Budget, execution remains stalled. The District Municipality of Majes initially promised contingency modules but later retracted the offer, citing lack of availability.