Scorching schools, exhausted pupils and silenced teachers – according to media reports, the City of Vienna commissioned a study in 2021 to find out how the extremely high room temperatures in Vienna’s classrooms could be reduced.
Five years later, the revealing findings have now been made public: the study recommends ventilation, LED lighting, shading and outdoor lessons – at a cost of a whopping €50,000 of taxpayers’ money, as reported by the *Kronen Zeitung* on 1 July 2026.
For Ombudsman Christoph Luisser, this is a farce: “The Vienna City Government clearly does not care at all about the health of pupils and teachers. Instead of investing the money wisely, for example in air-conditioning or fans, a meaningless study has been commissioned. In the meantime, the poor pupils and teachers are left to continue sweating and suffering in their ‘sauna classrooms’ under the scorching summer heat.”
“I have initiated an official investigation into this matter. I will scrutinise this dubious study meticulously. Every aspect and circumstance of this case must be fully clarified,” Luisser added.
Ombudsman is simultaneously investigating two complaints lodged by parents – a gag order for teachers?
At the same time, Ombudsman Luisser is currently processing two complaints. The case concerns the Eßlinger Hauptstraße primary school in Vienna, where temperatures were recently recorded at almost 41 degrees. In the wake of this, the City of Vienna was immediately asked by the Ombudsman to provide a statement. No response has been received as yet.
To make matters worse, according to the parents concerned, teachers are no longer allowed to speak about the temperatures in their classrooms. “I learnt from the media that teachers have been banned from speaking out. Accordingly, they are no longer allowed to discuss the conditions in the classrooms. This allegation was also raised in my letter to City Hall and will be investigated thoroughly. I will keep pressing this issue until a permanently acceptable solution has been found,” the Ombudsman stated resolutely.
