Just three of the 34 schools in the Wagga area shortlisted in the state government's Cooler Classrooms program, have been able to begin the school year with new air conditioning systems installed.
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The program was announced in 2018 and represents a $500 million investment over five years in heating, cooling and fresh air ventilation systems in NSW schools.
So far, only Forest Hill Public, Kooringal High and Tumut Public have had their systems completed.
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education confirmed, 10 schools - including Ladysmith Public, North Wagga Public, Wagga High, and Wagga Public - are set to see their systems delivered soon.
Another 14 schools - including Ashmont Public, Batlow Technology, Kooringal Public, Mount Austin High, South Wagga Public, Sturt Public, Tumut High, Turvey Park Public and Willans Hill - are still in the "design phase of the program".
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The state government had previously committed to have all systems installed across the state by 2023.
"By the end of 2020, installation had been completed at 199 schools across NSW, including more than 3000 learning spaces and 222 libraries," the department spokesperson said.
Mount Austin Public School and Red Hill Public School are lagging behind the rest of the region and are currently still at the tender stage of the program.
The spokesperson confirmed there are another four schools "which do not qualify for the program because air conditioning has been installed through a different program".
Earlier this month, a war of words was sparked over the five-year Cooler Classrooms program, between state government politicians Wes Fang MLC and Helen Dalton MP.
In Mrs Dalton's Murray electorate there are 59 schools on the list for the program. Four schools in that electorate - Deniliquin High, Deniliquin South Public, Whitton-Murrami Public and Gol Gol Public - have now completed their installations.