NSW schools to receive permanent improvements to indoor air quality

The Perrottet Government is continuing the rollout of its ventilation program with thousands of classrooms set to benefit from automatic fresh air ventilation systems.
 
The $100 million investment in an air quality assurance program for NSW public schools has already delivered permanent air quality improvements to schools across NSW and forms part of the economic recovery to COVID-19.
 
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the comprehensive audit of all NSW public school learning spaces have helped make schools COVID safe and identified opportunities for permanent improvements to enhance natural ventilation.
 
“Schools have received a mix of temporary and permanent remediation works, and in some cases have adapted the way they use spaces as part of their COVID-19 Safety plan,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Our focus now is on leveraging the insights from the audit of all our public schools to deliver permanent improvements to air quality through this investment."
 
“The advice from experts is that maximising natural ventilation is the most effective method of minimising the spread of COVID-19 and we will continue to implement measures that support this.”
 
Almost 2,000 learning spaces, identified by the audit, are set to receive permanent automatic fresh air ventilation systems to complement natural ventilation and airflow. The ventilation systems are currently being procured and will be progressively installed. 
 
Temporary measures, including the use of air purifiers, have been put in place in these learning spaces to supplement natural ventilation and to ensure that they are safe for use. 
 
Ventilation is only one COVID safe measure in NSW public schools. Vaccinations, cohorting, restricted access and mask wearing all play an important role in keeping students safe.