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Longer-than-expected periods of above-average temperatures are forcing education institutions across Barbados to implement sweeping changes to classroom operations, facility infrastructure, and student policies to protect young people from heat-related health risks. With meteorological forecasts projecting hotter-than-normal conditions to remain in place through the start of 2027, marked by repeated waves of severe heat stress, schools from primary to secondary level are rolling out targeted adaptations, from expanding access to clean drinking water to revising long-standing uniform rules. Multiple school administrators shared details of their heat mitigation strategies with local outlet Barbados TODAY, outlining both progress and ongoing challenges in keeping learning environments safe and functional amid rising temperatures.

At Darryl Jordan Secondary School, located in the northern parish of St Lucy, Principal Ken Layne said the campus’s elevated natural position gives it a built-in advantage against sweltering conditions. “In terms of the physical plant and where we’re located, we’re slightly elevated, so for the most part we are breezy,” Layne explained. To support consistent hydration, a top priority for preventing heat illness, the school has installed dedicated water stations, distributed free reusable water bottles to all first-year students, and maintains a consistent supply of clean water via regular refills from the Barbados Water Authority. Unlike many traditional school policies that restrict drinking during class, Darryl Jordan Secondary allows students to access water freely throughout lessons, and the canteen stocks additional cool beverages for purchase. For physical education classes, which are often held outdoors, the school has adjusted schedules and shortened sessions to limit sun exposure. “In terms of PE… we started physical sessions late last week, but we try to keep them short; we don’t keep them outside in the sun too long,” Layne said, adding that the school’s standard PE uniform is already designed to be lightweight and breathable.

Across the island at Grantley Adams Memorial Secondary School in St Joseph, Principal Major Andrew Skeete has implemented similar operational and infrastructure adjustments. Like Darryl Jordan, the rural campus benefits from natural ventilation that helps moderate indoor temperatures, but Skeete’s team is moving forward with planned upgrades to add more electric fans and improve existing cooling systems. Outdoor gatherings such as school assemblies have been cut to just 10 to 15 minutes to reduce prolonged exposure to heat, and specialized learning spaces including information technology labs are already fitted with full air conditioning. Skeete noted that the national Ministry of Education first issued formal guidance for heat management last year, directing schools to make provisions for additional cooling and promote regular student hydration.

Primary schools across Barbados are also adapting their setups to cope with rising temperatures. At Bridgetown S.D.A. Primary School, Principal Dr. Cheryl Weekes said the institution is currently rolling out the installation of additional fans in every classroom, with some larger rooms now fitted with up four units combining ceiling, wall-mounted, and standing fans. “It is not affecting them really… because the classrooms are fairly airy also, with windows on both sides of the room,” Dr. Weekes said. All school assemblies are now held indoors in air-cooled spaces, and outdoor physical activities continue only with close adult supervision for signs of heat distress. Dr. Weekes credited the school’s parent-teacher association and local families for providing critical support to fund the new fan installations, saying the community response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Not all primary schools have the resources to fully address heat risks, however. At A. DaCosta Edwards Primary School in Belleplaine, St Andrew, Principal Janelle Jones said while staff and students are following national heat safety protocols, teaching remains a major challenge across the entire campus. “It has been difficult, but we’re managing. We would appreciate the kind donation of corporate bodies with some fans,” Jones said, noting that the school currently relies on shaded outdoor sessions under trees to escape the heat during peak temperature hours. Jones added that while staff encourage students to drink extra water and limit strenuous outdoor play, enforcing strict limits across the entire campus remains an uphill battle: “We have been going along with the protocols, but it’s a challenge. It’s hot everywhere.”

Many schools are also revisiting their uniform policies to adapt to the prolonged heat, building on recent trials of climate-friendly uniform designs at Princess Margaret Secondary School. At private St Winifred’s School, Principal Valerie Routley said the institution has already relaxed uniform requirements to help students stay cool. “For the last couple of years, particularly during this term, we have allowed our students to wear their PE kits to school rather than their full school uniform because of the heat, because of course the PE kits are much cooler,” Routley explained. The school is currently considering making this flexible policy permanent, with a series of working meetings planned to design a permanent, more breathable climate-friendly school uniform. Beyond uniform changes, St Winifred’s has added new water hydration stations, requires students to wear hats for outdoor activities, and schedules most PE sessions on the school’s covered tennis court to stay out of direct sun. The school nurse also conducts regular checks to identify early signs of heat exhaustion among students.