Survey - What can Hessian cities do about run-down schools
A Billion Euro in five years for school renovation: Frankfurt is now addressing a problem that has long troubled many parents and children. The dpa inquired in other Hessian municipalities and districts: School renovation is a topic everywhere. During the holidays, time should be used to make progress.
In Frankfurt, the school construction is to become "faster, more transparent, and more binding," as Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) announced when presenting the program. This is necessary: 30 percent of Frankfurt students are taught in interim buildings, 100 buildings need "substantial" renovation, according to Education Senator Sylvia Weber (SPD).
Since this cannot be done overnight, Frankfurt has prioritized investments for 30 schools. The school construction is in "an absolute emergency situation," it was stated at the program presentation on Monday. The number of students is increasing - therefore, the program will also create nearly 10,000 new school places.
There is also a bottleneck in Wiesbaden
A spokesperson for the city of Wiesbaden also mentions a large backlog of renovations. "Additional requirements for creating additional school space due to increasing student numbers and due to the right to a full-day place in primary schools from 2026" are also in place. Currently, major renovation projects are underway at eleven schools. When adding renovations, new buildings, and extensions, the total comes to around 900 million Euro.
"There is a lack of sports fields, even with ongoing renovation projects," the spokesperson said. By 2025, a total of seven additional sports fields will be available. In addition, eleven school gymnasiums will be built. For a school, a new gymnasium is currently being built, and a second one is planned.
Investments in Hanau have quadrupled in a few years
Hanau spends between 2.5 and 3 million Euro annually to prevent a school building renovation backlog. For the coming two years, according to city administration announcements, renovations of classroom spaces and sanitary facilities are planned for 25 schools. Construction is prioritized during the summer holidays.
Additional investments for larger projects such as ground renovations, extensions, and new buildings are also planned. For these, 20.8 million Euro are budgeted in the Hanau Investment Plan for this year and 24.4 million Euro for the next. With these expenditures, the city's investments in the past five years have more than quadrupled, according to city administration figures.
Schools in Marburg "in relatively good condition"
Further investments of around 95 million Euro are planned for schools in Marburg by 2028. 68 million Euro of this is for construction companies, and 27 million Euro is for measures within the Digital Pact. "Our schools are in a relatively good condition. However, there is also a substantial, long-term renovation need in Marburg to optimally adjust the schools," explained a city spokesperson.
Roughly speaking, the long-term investment need for schools in the medium-sized city of Marburg amounts to approximately 500 million Euro. Currently, 14 classes at five schools are being taught in containers, including a complete school. Comprehensive renovation needs also exist for about two-thirds of Marburg's school sports halls.
No renovation backlog in Offenbach
According to the district's announcement, there is no renovation backlog in the Offenbach district. All schools have been renovated as part of a public-private partnership and are maintained regularly.
For Sports Halls, the same applies. In the next five years, around 290 million Euro are planned to flow into school expansions and new constructions. "At around 30 schools, pupils will be temporarily taught in high-quality modular buildings due to increasing pupil numbers," it says.
School Sanitation Plan in Darmstadt
Since 2020, all public buildings in Darmstadt have been considered in a sanitation plan - including schools. Currently, construction work is being carried out at 14 schools with 28 buildings. Thirteen of these buildings are expected to reopen by the end of this year. Planning services for the future comprehensive sanitation of another 13 schools are currently being carried out.
The medium-term investment plan for 2024, as decided by the city, sees investments of around 62.4 million Euro for schools and sports halls. "Three school sports halls will be put back into operation after comprehensive sanitation in 2024," the city states. For the care of pupils during construction work, there is usually temporary accommodation. The use of containers is being avoided.
Many older school buildings in the city of Kassel
The current backlog of repairs in Kassel, according to the city, amounts to around 200 million Euro. This does not include expansion and extension needs due to increasing pupil numbers, full-day schools, and inclusion, explained a press spokesperson for the city. The same applies to upcoming comprehensive renovations of the large school buildings from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
"The stock of schools in Kassel includes many older buildings", explained the spokesperson. Despite investing a medium three-digit million amount in the Kassel schools in the last decades, the spokesperson stated that the funds were not sufficient to maintain the stock at a good level. Until the upcoming measures are implemented, it will take at least ten years, according to the spokesperson.
- In addition to Frankfurt, schools in the city of Hanau are also facing renovation challenges, with annual investments rising significantly to address the backlog.
- Sylvia Weber, the Education Senator from Frankfurt am Main (SDP), has acknowledged that 100 schools in Frankfurt require substantial renovations, with 30 percent of students currently learning in interim buildings.
- Marburg is planning investments of around 95 million Euro for school renovations by 2028, aiming to optimally adjust its schools with a substantial long-term renovation need.
- In contrast, schools in Offenbach have no reported renovation backlog, with all public buildings, including schools, regularly maintained through a public-private partnership.
- The city of Wiesbaden is also dealing with a backlog of school renovations, with a large number of additional school places required due to increasing student numbers and the right to a full-day place in primary schools from 2026.
- Mike Josef, the SPD mayor of Frankfurt, announced that the city's school construction would become "faster, more transparent, and more binding," prioritizing investments for 30 schools to address the emergency situation.
- Schools in Kassel, with many older buildings, are currently facing a backlog of repairs amounting to around 200 million Euro, not including expansion and extension needs due to increasing pupil numbers.
