Sabadell Schools to Receive Major Safety Upgrades
The Sabadell City Council will use €3.2 million in funding from the Generalitat de Catalunya to remove asbestos-containing fibre cement from public schools and carry out wider improvements across the city’s educational centres. The investment, part of the Generalitat’s €100 million 'Fons Actualitza Escoles' initiative, will focus on 35 public schools built before 2007 that have not undergone major renovations. In Sabadell, the funds will target urgent asbestos removals, particularly at schools like Calvet d’Estrella and Pau Casals, where roofs made of fibre cement have long raised health concerns.
Health Concerns Prompt Long-Awaited Action
Maria Pérez, director of Calvet d’Estrella school, said staff and parents have waited “many years” for the removal of the hazardous material. She described the presence of asbestos as harmful to children and staff, warning of potential long-term health consequences. Although the issue has become “normalised” in daily school life, she stressed the urgency of action. As of summer 2024, the Department of Education has already removed fibre cement from five schools in Sabadell, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Ribatallada, Samuntada, Floresta de Can Deu, and Roureda, at a cost exceeding €2 million. However, partial removals mean further work is still needed at some of these sites.
“Era un dels compromisos que teníem i s'ha fet en cinc escoles, però encara ens queden pendents altres escoles on actuar-hi, total o parcialment.”
Mayor Marta Farrés confirmed that eight additional schools, Agnès Armengol, Calvet d’Estrella, Can Deu, Joan Montllor, Pau Casals, La Romànica, Francesc Bellapart, and the Adult School at Creu de Barberà, still require full or partial intervention. She said the council will begin formal discussions with the new Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, to set a clear timeline.
Work Schedule and Additional Improvements
While no specific dates have been set, Mayor Farrés stated the council aims to complete the works “as soon as possible,” likely during school holidays when buildings are vacant. The deadline to execute and justify expenses to the Department of Education is 2028. Beyond asbestos removal, the plan includes replacing roofs at five schools, upgrading windows in three centres, and renovating bathrooms in 30 facilities. These efforts complement the council’s broader commitment to invest €12.3 million in school maintenance and climate adaptation during the current mandate, with €7.3 million allocated from 2024 to 2027. This includes €3.7 million for painting projects, €2.2 million for climate comfort (including shading canopies, fans, and planting 600 trees), and infrastructure upgrades to school access routes. The Fons Actualitza Escoles programme covers 723 municipalities across Catalonia and runs from 2026 to 2028. Barcelona is excluded due to its separate management through the Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona.
Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, radiosabadell.fm, barna.news, barcelonapress.com, Diari Catalunya.
