Leuven School Heating Crisis: Principal Gerd Ronsmans Suspends Classes for 50 Students

Leuven (Eurotoday): The school faced heating issues post-autumn break, affecting nursery and first-grade classrooms. Director Gerd Ronsmans closed the school for the day, relocating 50 children to a heated building.

After the autumn break, the school faced heating problems that affected the nursery and first-grade classrooms. Director Gerd Ronsmans noted that the issue was less serious for toddlers, as their active play helped keep them warm, especially since the weather wasn’t too cold. However, the school still needed extra steps to ensure the children’s comfort.

What measures are being taken to keep first graders warm during heating issues?

It has been said that the situation was tougher for first graders, who spend a lot of time sitting still in class. With not enough heating, it became very cold for them. To help, the school asked parents to dress their kids warmly. Toddlers were encouraged to wear fleece jackets or onesies, while first graders were bundled up to stay warm. These measures were necessary to keep the children comfortable until the heating system could be repaired.

A few electric heaters were set up in classrooms, but the school’s electrical system couldn’t support them, causing temperatures to drop to 11 degrees. The director decided to close the nursery school and first grade. Parents were notified, and most found alternative childcare, while around 50 children are being cared for in another building with working heating. The school plans to reopen on Monday after adding more electrical support for the heaters and fixing the heating boiler. The director expressed hope that the repair issues would be resolved soon, as he is worried about the cold winter ahead.


Comments

3 responses to “Leuven School Heating Crisis: Principal Gerd Ronsmans Suspends Classes for 50 Students”

  1. What a brilliant strategy—who needs education when you can turn the classroom into a chilly adventure park? Maybe the kids can earn some extra credits in “Surviving the Great Leuven Freeze”! ❄️😏

  2. Dr. 
Cocktail Avatar
    Dr. Cocktail

    Well, nothing says “learning” like sitting in a classroom colder than a Brussels winter, eh? 🤣 Even the toddlers know that playtime is the best way to avoid frostbite!

  3. Sky Herald Avatar

    Well, isn’t that just peachy? Nothing like a little frostbite to spice up the curriculum—who needs field trips when you can have “Surviving the Winter Wonderland” as a lesson plan? 🥶📚

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

The Disappearance of the Border Overnight

The Disappearance of the Border Overnight

European allies are taking steps to bolster Ukraine as Kyiv increases its efforts in the conflict with Russia.
As part of these efforts, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and a team of EU leaders are making an unexpected visit to Kyiv to advance a series of new defense initiatives. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss the packages expected to be unveiled today.
Additionally, starting

Read More

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

The European Parliament’s Public Health Committee has adopted its response to the EU’s cardiovascular health plan, backing prevention, early detection, and action against risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
The report, approved on June 24 by 38 votes to two, with one abstention, responds to the European Commission’s Safe Hearts Plan, unveiled in December 2025. It calls for a coordinated E

Read More

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

The Council of the European Union has tightened Schengen visa procedures for Guinean nationals, citing insufficient cooperation from Conakry on the readmission of its citizens staying irregularly in EU member states. The decision, adopted on 10 July, highlights a broader European debate on using pressure on third-country governments for migration enforcement and its impact on ordinary travelers,

Read More

9 EU Countries Call to Defund Olympics Over Russian Re-entry

9 EU Countries Call to Defund Olympics Over Russian Re-entry

Last week, the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been in place since October 2023, despite Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
“Nothing has changed on the ground. Russia is still waging its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine,” stated Swedish Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed. “EU funding programs and cooperation frameworks cannot

Read More

Establishing a New Standard in Luxury Travel

Establishing a New Standard in Luxury Travel

 leading airline has unveiled its next-generation signature lounge concept that is being introduced and rolled out across its key cities globally this year.
The move is said to mark a milestone in Emirates’ continued investment into elevating customer experience on-ground.
The new design aesthetic has been revealed in the Emirates Lounge in Munich, as well as Frankfurt, with signature lounges in

Read More

Moldova’s EU Path Secures a Business-Minded Nominee

Moldova’s EU Path Secures a Business-Minded Nominee

Maia Sandu selects Vasile Tofan as prime minister as Chisinau seeks stability in reform, public trust, and EU accession
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has appointed businessman and investor Vasile Tofan as the next prime minister, starting a two-week parliamentary approval period during a critical phase for Moldova’s EU aspirations. Announced on Saturday, this decision puts economic recovery, adm

Read More

Burnham Launches Battle Against ‘Cover-Up Culture’

Burnham Launches Battle Against ‘Cover-Up Culture’

With parliament breaking for the summer recess on Thursday, this will probably be Burnham’s sole intervention from the backbenches of the House of Commons.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also known as the Hillsborough law, is named after the 1989 tragedy at the Sheffield stadium where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives in a crush.
The proposed legislation requires public bodies to be tru

Read More

The Day the European Parliament Yielded to Far-Right Pressure, Setting a Concerning Precedent

The Day the European Parliament Yielded to Far-Right Pressure, Setting a Concerning Precedent

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Read More

Noskova Brings Wimbledon Victory to Czech Republic

Noskova Brings Wimbledon Victory to Czech Republic

Linda Noskova’s victory at Wimbledon marks a significant achievement for Czech women’s tennis as she secured her first Grand Slam title by defeating Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech singles final.
Written by Daniel Mercer, Sports Correspondent, The European Times
Although Wimbledon often highlights champions as solitary figures, Noskova’s win represents a triumph f

Read More

Peers told to attend House of Lords more often — or get fired

Peers told to attend House of Lords more often — or get fired

Hereditary peers, who have membership in the UK’s House of Lords by birthright, were removed from parliament earlier this year through legislation introduced by Keir Starmer.
The implementation of this limited change took over 18 months, and Starmer did not secure agreement on additional reforms to reduce the House’s size, which were part of his Labour Party’s election-winning 2024 man

Read More