The expansion and partial renovation of Szentgotthárd’s Arany János Primary School, valued at over HUF one billion, has officially begun. The details were shared with the press on February 21, 2025. The project is being implemented by the School District Center of Szombathely and the Vas County Municipal Office, with funding from the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Program Plus.
During the 2021-2027 programming period, operations of strategic importance (OSI)—commonly referred to as Pillars—aim to enhance the visibility of EU funding and showcase achieved results to the public. Within the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Program Plus, the Pillars are structured around four key measures, one of which focuses on developing public education infrastructure. Under this initiative, approximately 250 institutions are expected to be modernized, creating high-quality educational environments with modern classrooms, subject-specific rooms, and laboratories, language training spaces, IT equipment, and other learning tools, community spaces and sports facilities, infrastructure and equipment for daily physical education. The goal is to ensure a high standard of education and meet contemporary learning needs by providing modern, well-equipped learning environments.
The Szentgotthárd investment aligns with national efforts to ensure equal access to quality education. The Vas County Regional Development Concept also emphasizes enhancing the retention of rural populations and improving educational institutions in remote areas.
This project is the largest education development initiative in the county to date. With this investment, the total amount of regional development funding allocated to Szentgotthárd will reach 5.5 billion HUF.
The majority of the funding will go toward the expansion of the school. Two new wings will be built, adding approximately 1,130 square meters to the existing three-building complex. One wing will house a gymnasium along with social facilities. The second wing will include the ground floor: two group rooms, two storage rooms, two specialized classrooms, a teacher’s changing room, and restrooms. Then the upper floor: three classrooms, two group rooms, additional restrooms, and a janitor’s storage room. An elevator will be installed to ensure accessibility. Additionally, minor renovations will be carried out in the existing building, and HUF 33 million will be allocated for new furniture, educational tools, laboratory equipment, and sports facilities.
(Source: palyazat.gov.hu)
