According to medical research, children are more sensitive to heat stress and prefer a climate cooler than adults, with temperatures of about 22.5 degrees as most agreeable. Studies have found that this preferred cooler environment is due to children possessing a naturally higher metabolic rate. Typically it is the teacher dictating the temperature of the classroom and this may be detrimental for children in the short run as research has revealed that for every 1.5 degree increase in temperature, learning outcomes are inversely affected by 2% decline.

In 2018, 10,000 classrooms in NSW lacked air conditioning. The NSW Government has since pledged to spend $500 million to change this.

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