Feminist Network Demands Air-Conditioned Classrooms and Drinking Water Amid Heat Wave in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — A feminist collective in Quintana Roo has demanded that state authorities immediately install air conditioning and provide drinking water in schools across the southern region, warning that extreme heat is endangering students’ health.

The Quintana Roo Feminist Network (RFQ) issued a statement Wednesday calling on Governor Mara Lezama and the state Education Department to take urgent action. The group said that health recommendations from officials are insufficient given the climate crisis, which they argue has been worsened by what they called “ecocides” carried out by the state or private companies with its approval.

The organization said thousands of students are attending classes in poorly ventilated rooms, and in the most critical cases, without access to cold drinking water. The network demanded that all schools be equipped with water dispensers and a constant supply of bottled water, and that air conditioning systems be installed and maintained in every classroom.

“Children and adolescents should not study in conditions that put their physical and emotional health at risk,” the group said, linking the lack of infrastructure to government negligence.

The RFQ rejected the argument that there is no budget for such measures, accusing the state government of spending on unnecessary items while neglecting basic education and public health needs. “Do not use the excuse that there is no money,” the collective said, adding that resources are being diverted to other areas before essential obligations are met.

The group also linked the intensity of the heat waves to deforestation in the region, criticizing state planning for failing to account for climate impacts on public infrastructure. The demand adds to growing pressure on education authorities during a school year marked by high temperatures, as activists call for prioritizing student dignity over administrative or political spending.