“Investment remains necessary”: East Flanders schools get 10 million euros to renovate buildings

7 March 2024

Education Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA) is investing 10 million euros to build schools in East Flanders. The investments are spread over 12 schools receiving more than 100,000 euros and 11 other schools receiving more than 10,000 euros. With the money, Weyts wants to invest in quality classroom places.

For construction or renovation works, school boards in subsidized education can receive financial support from AGION, the Flemish Agency for Infrastructure in Education. Subsidized education includes municipal, urban, provincial and free education.

In the previous reign, Flanders spent a total of 3 billion euros on school infrastructure. That is 500 million euros more than in the previous reign and an absolute record. The focus was mainly on secondary education where the needs are highest.

“Those who invest in educational quality also invest in quality places in the classroom. That is why in the past coalition period we released a lot of extra money for school infrastructure,” said Weyts. “Also in East Flanders, investments in new buildings or renovations remain necessary.”

Quality buildings

Now Weyts is investing 10.3 million euros in East Flanders school construction. These investments should ensure that pupils, teachers and staff can work in new, quality buildings. In 12 East Flanders schools, more than €100,000 will be invested in major construction works. 11 other schools receive more than €10,000, often for smaller repair works or, for example, renovating sanitary facilities.” (FLD)

These schools receive a grant:

  • Olsene Free Primary School from Zulte will receive 17,708.07 euros for the replacement of the heat pump and connection to the capture network.
  • Sint-Jozefscollege in Aalst receives 137,736.63 euros for renovation of windows to historical model in collaboration with real estate heritage
  • Wonderwijs Free Primary School in Destelbergen can invest 314,986.57 euros in renovation works and expansion from 2 to 3 kindergarten classrooms
  • The Free Primary School in Eeklo gets an extra 199,004.27 euros for already planned new building
  • The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Doorn in Eeklo gets 15,524.44 euros extra for asbestos removal
  • The Vrije Basisschool Sint-Franciscusschool in Erpe-Mere receives an increase of 150,365.46 euros from the subsidy granted for the conversion of an office building into a school building
  • Evergem Free Primary School receives 105,099.63 euros for roof insulation and renovation
  • Free Basisschool De Schatkist in Ertvelde (Evergem) can renew the heating system with 41,904.39
  • Free Elementary School – De Mozaïek Bis in Ghent receives 87,956.02 for renovation of school rooms
  • Institute for Extraordinary Secondary Education Binnenhof in Ghent receives 67,208.87 euros for renewing heating system and compartmentalizing
  • Stedelijke Basisschool Freinetschool De Loods in Ghent receives 58,133.72 euros for the construction of a new covered playground, bicycle storage, waste storage and storage for play and sports equipment and the construction of a new craft workshop
  • Urban Primary School – De Dialoog in Ghent gets 50,000 euros for roof renovation
  • Secondary Arts Institute in Ghent gets 217,585.49 euros for converting 3 classrooms into a lab classroom and a science classroom
  • Free Primary School – St. John’s College Visitation in Ghent can count on 16,303.77 euros to replace some windows and doors
  • Wonderster Free Primary School in Lede gets 12,951.33 for reconstruction of 2 playgrounds
  • Vrije Basisschool – O.-L.-V.-Visitation in Merelbeke receives 26,719.68 for the replacement of the seal flat roof plumbing and the installation of a partition wall in classroom
  • Free Primary School – Hartencollege Primary School Aspelare in Ninove receives 76,458.35 for installation of insulation, renovation of roof and eaves
  • BuSO VTS 3 OV4A in Sint-Niklaas will receive 48,272.40 euros to replace an old mazout boiler to a modern gas installation.
  • Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs VTS 3 – OV 3, BuSO VTS 3 OV4A and BuSO VTS 3 OV4B in Sint-Niklaas sees a previously awarded subsidy for a new construction project increased by 716,608.40 euros.
  • weTech academy in Sint-Niklaas gets 87,406.69 to renovate high-voltage cabin
  • OLVI-PIUS X College Street in Zele receives 13,470.57 euros for minor renovation work
  • Extraordinary Secondary School Sint-Franciscusschool in Zottegem receives 37,190.93 euros for adaptation works in function of disconnection of high voltage cable & new connection to electricity grid

Source: nieuwsblad.be