More than 650 students in Puerto Vallarta elementary schools face extreme heat without fans or air conditioning; parents plan a protest demanding immediate solutions.
More than 650 students enrolled at Constitución (morning shift) and Benito Juárez (afternoon shift) elementary schools in the El Mangal neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta are attending classes in uncomfortably high temperatures, with no functioning fans or air conditioning in their classrooms. Although the campus underwent a reconstruction project that was completed and officially handed over in January, numerous critical elements remain unfinished, leaving pupils exposed to heat levels that parents describe as “inhumane.”
“The facilities we returned to earlier this year are still unsuitable,” said a group of concerned parents who have been vocal on social media about the lack of basic amenities. “Without fans and unable to use air conditioning due to deficient electrical systems, our children can’t tolerate the high temperatures, and some have even suffered heat stroke.”
According to local weather reports, daytime highs in recent days have hovered in the mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit), making enclosed classrooms without ventilation especially dangerous for young children. Parents say that, on several occasions, students have become dizzy, fainted, or complained of severe headaches and dehydration.
Efforts to resolve the problem at the school level have so far yielded no results. Parents have met repeatedly with Héctor Ibáñez, the principal of the Constitución Elementary School—who also oversees the Benito Juárez afternoon shift—only to be met with dismissive responses. “He has treated us in a despotic and sarcastic manner,” one parent reported. “We were told to just deal with it.”
Seeking higher-level intervention, the parents approached the Regional Delegation of Educational Services (DRSE). However, they were told that resolving the issue “is the principal’s responsibility,” effectively passing the problem back to the very person who has failed to act.
In the meantime, both morning and afternoon sessions have been cut short. Classes now run on abbreviated schedules to minimize students’ exposure to the heat, but parents argue that truncated lessons are delaying their children’s education and do not constitute an acceptable long-term solution.
“To protect their health, we understand the need for shorter days,” said another parent. “But our children are losing valuable instructional time—and this cannot continue.”
In response to the ongoing crisis, parents announced that they will hold a demonstration on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 2 p.m. in front of the school entrance. They plan to present a formal petition demanding that the state and municipal education authorities provide fans, complete the electrical upgrades necessary for air conditioning, and finish all outstanding construction work without further delay.
Local education advocates have thrown their support behind the families. “Children have the right to a safe learning environment,” said María López, a spokesperson for Padres Unidos, a grassroots parents’ association. “It’s unacceptable that, months after reconstruction was supposed to solve these problems, students are still suffering.”
When contacted for comment, DRSE officials reiterated that the principal is responsible for day-to-day facility management but declined to outline any concrete steps the delegation might take if he fails to act. “We encourage parents to continue working with school leadership,” said one DRSE representative.
Meanwhile, school maintenance crews have been intermittently on-site to address minor repairs, but no timeline has been provided for the completion of the electrical and ventilation systems. Teachers have resorted to opening windows and doors whenever possible, but in the height of the heat, this measure offers little relief.
