The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) announced an investment of 850 million to requalify schools across the country. The Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR) published this Wednesday the opening notices of the second competition for requalification or construction works of public schools. The program, with a total amount of 850 million euros, aims to modernize 237 educational establishments classified as “P2 – Urgent” intervention, attended by more than 128 thousand students in 118 municipalities across the country.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, MECI explains that the financing results from the agreement signed between the Government and the European Investment Bank (EIB), worth a total of around one billion euros, intended for the modernization of schools in the 2nd and 3rd cycles of Basic Education and Secondary Education. According to the notice, municipal councils can submit applications until June 30, 2026and each application must correspond to a single school. Construction, expansion or rehabilitation projects that contribute to the energy transition will have priority in the allocation of funds.
The Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region concentrates the largest share of investment, with 399.5 million euros (47% of the total)intended for the requalification of 95 schools that host 63,781 students. Next is the North, with 212.5 million euros for 61 schools, and the Center, which will have 110.5 million for 37 establishments. Alentejo will receive 85 million, and the Algarve, 42.5 million euros.
Requalification with a focus on energy efficiency and digitalization
According to MECI, eligible applications must include interventions that improve energy efficiency and the thermal and environmental comfort conditions of schools, contributing to the green and digital transition.
Civil construction work, acquisition of school furniture and equipment, teaching and IT materials, as well as digital resources to support learning, including hardware, software and educational digital tools, can be financed.
The 66 schools already covered by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) or benefiting from other PT2030 programs are excluded from this competition, except those with contracts terminated on the date of publication of the notice.
In the statement, MECI clarifies that, with this second competition, the Government intends to accelerate the modernization of the public school network and guarantee better teaching and learning conditions for students and teachers across the country.
The distribution of funds by the CCDR was based on a weighted average between the number of eligible schools and the number of classes in each region.