Schools across the whole of Fuerteventura and nine municipalities in Gran Canaria will be closed for face-to-face classes tomorrow, Tuesday 15th September, due to the extreme temperatures forecast across the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands Government's Department of Education has announced the extraordinary measure following instructions from the Directorate General of Emergencies and Civil Protection and in accordance with its protocol for dealing with high temperatures in educational establishments.

In Fuerteventura, the closure applies to all educational centres across the island.

In Gran Canaria, schools will be closed for face-to-face teaching in Agüimes, Artenara, Ingenio, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, La Aldea de San Nicolás, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Telde and Valsequillo.

Although pupils will not attend classes in person in the affected areas, online teaching will take place where possible, depending on the course and type of education.

The decision represents a significant escalation in the response to the current heat episode, which is affecting the entire Canary Islands and is also being accompanied by widespread calima.

Temperatures could exceed 38°C

Tuesday is forecast to be an exceptionally hot day in several parts of the archipelago.

Temperatures could reach or locally exceed 38°C in inland and eastern areas of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, as well as southern Gran Canaria.

Tenerife is also expected to experience very high temperatures. More than 35°C is forecast in parts of the west, south and east of the island and in Santa Cruz, with temperatures locally capable of exceeding 37°C.

The situation is being compounded by calima, which is expected to remain particularly significant at surface level in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The Canary Islands Government currently has the whole archipelago under a pre-alert for high temperatures.

What about schools on the other islands?

Schools have not been ordered to close in Tenerife, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro or La Graciosa, nor in the Gran Canaria municipalities outside the nine affected areas.

However, the Department of Education has instructed schools throughout the rest of the archipelago to take additional precautions, particularly for pupils considered vulnerable to high temperatures.

Measures include reducing physical activity and avoiding outdoor sport during the hottest periods of the day, ensuring pupils drink water regularly and making greater use of cooler, shaded or air-conditioned areas where available.

Schools can also increase hydration breaks, use ventilation systems appropriately and keep blinds lowered in classrooms exposed to direct sunlight.

Individual schools experiencing particularly difficult conditions can request additional measures from the relevant education authorities, including changes to timetables or allowing pupils to leave early.

For children under 18, any authorised early departure is optional, requires permission from their parent or legal guardian and cannot take place before 12:00 noon.

Children who remain at school must continue to be supervised for their normal school day.

School meal and transport services in areas where face-to-face teaching continues are expected to maintain their normal schedules.

Further decisions will depend on the heat

The Government says arrangements for subsequent school days will depend on how temperatures develop and on further instructions from the relevant emergency authorities.

Parents and guardians are therefore advised to monitor official communications from their children's schools and the Canary Islands Government in case the measures are extended or changed.

The decision comes as the islands endure a combination of high temperatures and Saharan dust, with conditions expected to become particularly intense on Tuesday.

With temperatures potentially exceeding 38°C in parts of the eastern islands and Gran Canaria, authorities are urging people to reduce strenuous outdoor activity, remain hydrated and pay particular attention to children, elderly people and others who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat.