First graders, then up to sixth grade at secondary schools: In this order, the Munich schools are to be equipped with mobile air filter systems. At least this is what the city council factions of the Greens / Pink List, SPD / Volt, CSU as well as FDP and Bavarian party demand in a joint application. Afternoon care, such as after-school care centers and day care centers in elementary schools, should also get such devices quickly. In addition, the department for education and sport is to determine how institutions can be equipped by freely funded providers of afternoon care. In the first step, there is no provision for daycare centers to be considered. Verena Dietl (SPD), as Third Mayor, among other things responsible for the education and health committee, speaks of a “step-by-step plan” to be developed over the summer.
It is not yet possible to predict whether many air filters will actually be buzzing off at the start of the new school year in mid-September. The acquisition is to be put out to tender, whereby the Department for Education and Sport emphasizes that “maintenance, electricity and other follow-up costs” are also to be taken into account. Simply place an order with the wholesaler – so it’s not that easy. At the end of June, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) brought dynamism to the discussion – with the announcement that the state of Bavaria would assume up to 50 percent of the acquisition costs.
A website of the State Ministry for Education and Culture has been online since July 6th, specifying in detail which devices are funded by the Free State (for example, these may not be louder than 40 decibels) and the maximum grant amount per room: 1750 euros. That is not enough for the Munich city politicians. “The Free State must promote more,” demands Verena Dietl, “stealing from responsibility here with funding instead of complete financing is irresponsible. Those who announce should also pay.” In the cross-faction proposal, Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) is called upon to “support the Free State for 100% funding as possible”. However, the federal government could possibly also provide relief. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, there are talks about an expansion of the federal program, with which so far only the installation of fixed systems has been promoted.
For the first stage of the plan alone, which is now being forged in Munich, an amount in the double-digit million range should be incurred. The cost of fully equipping all schools and daycare centers can currently only be estimated. The Department for Education and Sport has purchased around 13,500 CO₂ traffic lights to monitor the indoor air in classrooms and in day-care centers. If these were supplemented over a large area with an air filter, the prices of which experts put between 2000 and 4000 euros, the investment sum would be around 30 million euros.
How effective are the mobile air purifiers? After the Federal Environment Agency had been cautious for a long time, it classified their use in rooms with limited ventilation options as “sensible” last Friday: “Properly positioned and operated, their use is effective in minimizing the likelihood of indirect infections during the duration of the pandemic.”
Accordingly, the Federal Parents’ Council demanded air filters in all schools this Monday, not only in those for children who are not yet twelve years old and for whom there is therefore no vaccination offer.
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