Requalified Alcanene School with €6.7 million: What's changed?

Athe requalification works of the Alcanena Secondary School, attended by about 800 students, will be inaugurated next week, in an investment of more than 6.7 million euros, mainly financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

“It improves learning and working conditions, that is, it is a structural investment in educational quality,” Lusa said today the Councillor of Education of the Alcanena Chamber, Clara Baptista.

The Alcanena Secondary School in the district of Santarém was the subject of an intervention that covered 10 buildings and included the construction of a new block, with work in classrooms, laboratories, library, auditorium, sports facilities and outdoor spaces.

Although only on the 21st will the ceremony be held that marks the completion of the works, the classes already take place in the requalified facilities since 21 September.

According to the data provided to Lusa by the municipality, the financing approved by the RRP amounts to EUR 6,33 million, while the overall value of the awards, including additional contracts, amounted to EUR 6,73 million, without VAT.

The difference of around €394,000 between the approved financing and the overall value of the awards will be “for now” supported by the municipality, “while awaiting financing solutions”, Clara Baptista explained.

The councilwoman also pointed out that the VAT of the initial amount is financed by the State budget through an autonomous mechanism, stating that the amounts presented correspond to awards and not to final execution figures.

The requalification included the replacement of covers with fiber cement plates, the application of thermal insulation on the facades, new frames with double glazing and the installation of photovoltaic panels, seeking to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of the buildings.

Water and electricity networks, air conditioning and fire safety systems were also involved.

Access to the first floor and adapted sanitary facilities were installed in accessibility, as well as new furniture and kitchen and bar equipment.

The councilwoman explained that the intervention responded to degradation problems, obsolete technical facilities, accessibility limitations and inappropriate pedagogical spaces, with the aim of providing better conditions for students, teachers and non-teachers.

Consigned on 9 September 2024, the undertaking had a period of 548 days and was concluded on 10 March 2026, but the provisional reception took place on 31 August.

Clara Baptista attributed the delays to the execution of complementary work, the lack of labour, the delay in the delivery of materials and the management of changes in school facilities.

The work took place in three phases, keeping the classes working during the work, using prefabricated modules over 17 months.

Despite the investment in this school, the mayor identified other requalification needs in the municipality, particularly at the Basic School Professor Abílio Madeira Martins, in Minde, for which new financing mechanisms will be needed, as well as in establishments of Monsanto, Vila Moreira and Gouxaria.