School Closures Due to Heat: When Can Students in Saxony Stay Home?

30 degrees Celsius and higher—that’s how high temperatures could rise in Saxony this week. In the Free State of Saxony, it is up to school administrators to decide when conditions in classrooms become unbearable and when schools should close due to the heat. It always depends on local conditions, explains a spokeswoman for the State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. One example is whether a school building heats up particularly quickly due to its architectural design. 

Spokesperson: Schools are best positioned to assess the situation themselves

Accordingly, there is no temperature threshold in Saxony, as exists in some other federal states. “We find time and again that local schools are best able to assess the situation,” said the spokeswoman. Even before completely canceling classes due to heat, schools have a range of options for responding to rising temperatures. “There is also the option of shortening class periods or extending breaks.” Outdoor classes and project-based learning outside the school are also possible, for example in the woods or at a swimming pool.