Catalonia will spend €100 million to equip one hundred public schools with modern climate control systems, aiming to improve classroom conditions and eventually reach every public school in the region by 2028.
One hundred public schools in Catalonia are set for major upgrades, with each receiving about one million euros to install new climate control systems. The Generalitat is starting with these schools as part of a larger plan to renovate every public school in the region by 2031, a project expected to cost 2.5 billion euros. According to Catalan media outlets like ARA and Crónica Global, this first phase will invest around €100 million, with each selected school or institute getting roughly €1 million for the work.
The goal is to have these first schools fully equipped to handle both summer heat and winter cold by the 2027/2028 academic year. The government, led by Salvador Illa, expects the investment to improve comfort, learning, and health by providing clean air and better energy efficiency in classrooms. As reported by ARA, the upgrades will include air conditioning, mechanical ventilation, thermal insulation, and modernized energy systems, with a focus on renewable energy and replacing windows where needed.
A newly established technical office, staffed by architects, lawyers, and economists, will monitor costs and oversee the progress of the climate adaptation project in Catalan schools.
Why these one hundred schools? Marta Clari, secretary general of the education department, says the selection was based on three main criteria: areas with the most extreme temperatures, a balance across Catalonia’s regions, and a focus on schools serving students most at risk from temperature extremes. Government data shows the need is urgent—over a quarter of public schools in Catalonia were built before 1960, many with outdated or failing heating and cooling systems. Crónica Global notes that the selection process aims to address both geographic and social vulnerability, so the most exposed and disadvantaged communities are first in line.
The project is large and complex. Education minister Esther Niubó calls it a "very ambitious transformation" and points to the scale of resources involved. The technical side includes new heating and cooling systems, better ventilation, and replacing old infrastructure, all coordinated by a new technical office made up of architects, lawyers, and economists. This team will track costs and progress to keep the project on course. Crónica Global describes this technical office as a key step for transparency and efficiency throughout the program.
Local governments will also play a role. Starting in 2027, municipalities will have two months to express interest in managing and pre-financing upgrades for their schools, with the Generalitat promising full reimbursement. Towns can use their own funds or take subsidized loans from the Institut Català de Finances, but the regional government will cover the final cost. As russpain reports, involving municipalities is central, making this not just an education project but a major intergovernmental effort.
The overall program will eventually cover 2,530 public educational centers across Catalonia, with a total budget of approximately 2.5 billion euros allocated through 2031. This includes not only schools but also kindergartens and institutes, as confirmed by multiple independent publications. ARA
The plan also covers 51 publicly owned student residences, with €58 million set aside for their climate adaptation. Xema Gil, secretary general of the Department of Social Rights, says work on these residences will start immediately and finish before the end of 2031.
The scale of the project is unusual for a regional government. The Generalitat is committing to a multi-year infrastructure overhaul that will require coordination across education, finance, and local government. The numbers are ambitious, but the outcome will depend on how well the plan is carried out. If successful, Catalonia’s public schools could set an example for climate adaptation in education. If not, the gap between promise and delivery will be clear.
