According to the minister, readers of CO₂ were installed in the province’s 68,548 classrooms to measure air quality in real time. What the government couldn’t do before.

In these classes, 724 (1%) exceed the standard of 1500 ppmjudged appropriate by public health, including 72 classes (0.1%) exceeding the 2000 threshold ppm.

These 724 classes are the classes that we monitor very, very closely and have asked for almost daily monitoringassured Bernard Drainville.

Work has already been done in several of these classes. exchanger [d’air] that have been installed, windows that have been modifiedthe new Minister of Education continued.

We’ve spent $400 million to date to solve the air quality problem. We’re going to spend another $200 million this school year. We installed air exchangers wherever we were asked to install them. We have installed CO readers₂ everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

” The situation is not ideal, the situation is not settled, but it is relatively under control. Classes are safe for our children. »

Aim 1500 or 1000 ppm?

Bernard Drainville explains that school air quality is the dossier to which he has devoted the most energy and time since taking office and confirms that his government continues to make significant efforts to ensure optimal school air quality, ie CO concentrations₂ Falling below the standard of 1000 ppm.

During his appearance on the show everyone talks about 23rd October, Bernard Drainville had also stated that the concentrations of CO last June₂ were under 1000 ppm in 95% of Quebec classes. However, today the minister used the standard of 1500 instead ppm during his press conference. Why?

Realize that the goal of 1500 ppm by CO₂ is a measure which is not optimalbut still judged appropriate from public health, however, the minister assured that the ultimate goal is to get below the 1000 threshold ppm CO concentrations₂ in all classes and all school buildings in Quebec.

” Honestly I wish I could tell you that all of our classes are under 1000 ppm. That’s not the case. […] We still have work, lots of work to do, to get all classes below 1000 ppm. »

Actually in the Real Estate Planning Guide (New window) by the Quebec government for elementary schools, which the Schendell et al. In 2004 we learned that a concentration of CO₂ from 1000 ppm or more increases absenteeism among students. The researchers also observed more drowsiness in the pupils, increased inattention, a drop in performance and more irritation of the mucous membranes.

CO reader₂ According to the minister in all classes in Quebec, it will now be easier for the ministry to monitor air quality in its facilities.

This allows us to follow the situation in the classes in real time and take action if necessary. […] We act where there is a need for actionrecalled Bernard Drainville, whose ministry has hundreds of air exchangers in its warehouses ready to be installed at the request of school authorities.

ailing schools

According to the Minister, the large majority Schools where air quality is an issue are run-down facilities, dating back to before the 1980’s.

” Talking about ventilation also means talking about the fact that our schools are aging and we still need to make big investments. »

More than one in two Quebec schools, 53% to be exact, are currently rated D or E, meaning they are in poor or very poor condition. according to Quebec Ministry of Education documents obtained by Radio-Canada earlier this year.

According to the data obtained, only 47% of Quebec school buildings have received an A, B or C grade to date.

Under the Liberals, the Ministry of Education aimed for at least 85% of Quebec’s school buildings to be in satisfactory condition. A target reduced to 50% by the CAQ during his last tenure.

Schools need to be renovated

Kathleen Legault, President of the Montreal Association of School Principals (AMDES), acknowledges that the situation has improved. In the interview at 15-18 However, on Friday she lamented that thousands of classes are not reaching the ideal threshold of 1,000 ppm.

This threshold, she points out, allows students to focus and be in the best possible position to study.

Ms Legault wonders if the threshold set by public health is 1,500 ppm will be enough to reassure parents and school staff. This remains a case to be followed.She says.

The President of AMDES complains that in many primary schools and, to a lesser extent, in secondary schools too, the decision to open the windows has to be made to improve the air quality.

The prospect of schoolchildren having to wear their hats in class this winter worries many parents, she said.

Certainly the readers of CO₂ installed in classrooms are a valuable tool not only for residents but also for school service centers and the ministry, says Ms Legault. This allows them to follow up and monitor more problematic cases.

In addition, these readers allow only one window to be opened when needed, whereas previously all windows had to be opened.

But air quality is only an issue for schools. Ms. Legault recalls that on the island of Montreal, more than half of the school buildings are in poor or very poor condition. If we want to solve the air quality problem, we must speed up the renovation of schools and the demolition of buildings that can no longer be repaired, she warns.

Not placing an air exchanger in each of these classes will fail the 1000 threshold ppm that we get there. We need to renovate our schools.