OECD review of the secondary school modernisation programme in Portugal

The school building renovation program in Portugal, which began in March 2007, involves the renovation of 332 schools by 2015. However, Portugal plans to complete 205 by the end of 2011, spending EUR 2.45 billion to do so. The review, which took place last summer, presented Centre for Effective Learning Environment (CELE) with an opportunity to evaluate the program drawing on the collective knowledge and experience of both experts and members of the CELE Board of Participants. The program in Portugal aims to tackle the physical deterioration of the building stock and environmental standards in terms of energy performance. It will address environmental comfort, sanitary standards and the functional inadequacy of the buildings for teaching and learning. It also aims to open up the schools to the local community, and include long-term maintenance of the buildings after modernization. The review has provided an opportunity for CELE and its members to reflect on the many issues from funding to use.