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Schools return amid heat wave

Thursday, 13 August 2026 06:30

Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Jura pupils return to school on Monday — straight into Switzerland's fourth heatwave of the summer.

Geneva could hit 36 tomorrow, and the federal authorities have raised the heat danger to level three out of  five across the Lake Geneva region.

Teacher unions warn classrooms will heat up fast.

Cantonal guidance — ventilators, shaded rooms, no outdoor sport — is what union president David Rey calls a sticking-plaster.

The union is holding a press conference later today to demand structural changes, warning that shortened school days may return if temperatures stay this high.

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