United Future MP Judy Turner is aghast that prisons are getting under-floor heating when some primary students are freezing in classrooms in Central Otago.

She is citing the example of Alexandra Primary School where staff and students are forced to work in insufficiently heated buildings.

Mrs Turner says temperatures in Alexandra often do not rise above two degrees, and in some areas of the school rotting boards are allowing water to leak through.

She says she has nothing against heating in prisons but the Government has got to get its priorities right.

Ms Turner is taking the issue up with the Education Minister.