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It was inevitable: the funding available from Dresden for school building projects has continued to dwindle in recent years. More and more of the City of Leipzig’s new-build projects have come under fire. The city must tighten its belt, particularly against the backdrop of a budget that has spiralled completely out of control.
And that is why the City of Leipzig is now realigning its school-building strategy and shifting its focus. In future, the emphasis will be on safeguarding the existing school network and modernising existing school buildings. Around 203 million euros are to be invested in this in the forthcoming 2027/2028 biennial budget.
“Every euro that goes into our educational infrastructure is money well spent,” emphasised Vicki Felthaus, the city’s mayor responsible for schools, on Thursday 24 September. “It sends a strong signal that, despite tight budgets, we are continuing to invest in our city’s young people. Our children and young people should be able to learn in a supportive, accessible and modern environment.”
She also highlighted the importance of school buildings for the city as a whole: “Between the end of lessons in the afternoon and the start of school the following morning, our school buildings do not stand empty. They are actively used for leisure and after-school activities in the neighbourhoods. Clubs benefit from the sports halls, and open school playgrounds remain popular meeting places even after school has finished.”
Modern learning spaces
Modern schools are therefore far more than just the provision of classrooms: they are places of learning, social interaction and community life – and thus shape life in our neighbourhoods far beyond the everyday school routine.
Nevertheless, further new school builds and refurbishments are planned for the coming years. In 2027, the Dösner Weg comprehensive school and the new sports hall at the Ratzelstraße secondary school will open. Renovation work on the school building on Löbauer Straße in Schönefeld, into which the Astrid Lindgren School is moving, and on the Gundorf School is also due to be completed. Projects already underway will be finished, whilst others are being partially rescheduled due to the tight financial situation.
As things stand, the Free State is expected to contribute around 30 per cent of the investment in school construction, amounting to approximately 108 million euros (2027) and 95 million euros (2028). The city will therefore continue to bear the lion’s share of the costs in 2027/2028 as well.
Leipzig’s school and nursery building strategy was adopted by the City Council in 2022. In 2025, the two strategies were separated and each updated independently. The school construction strategy consolidates and plans building works for school buildings, school sports halls, school playgrounds and outdoor play and sports facilities for schools up to the year 2036.
The website www.leipzig.de/schulbauprogramm provides an up-to-date overview of ongoing projects.
A few peanuts from the special fund
The fact that Leipzig still has the necessary scope for investment in schools at all is also down to the federal government’s ‘Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality’ special fund, in which the Free State of Saxony also participates. Part of these funds is also being channelled into Saxon schools, as announced by Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs Conrad Clemes on 30 June.
He announced that the Free State of Saxony is supporting school construction projects at publicly funded schools with funds from the “Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality” special fund totalling around 490 million euros. The funds are being distributed via the SAB.
“The funding portal paves the way for numerous construction, renovation and modernisation projects at Saxony’s schools,” said Conrad Clemens.
“Over the next few years, the state and local authorities will jointly invest at least 817 million euros in public school construction. Towns and municipalities can submit their applications online until 1 September. We will then ensure that the funds reach the local level swiftly. A funding programme for independently run schools is also planned for next year.”
Sixty per cent of the funds earmarked for school construction will be allocated to the districts, and 40 per cent to the three independent cities.
The Special Fund for Saxony
The Free State of Saxony will receive around 4.84 billion euros from the ‘Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality’ special fund. Of this, around 490 million euros are earmarked for investment in school construction projects. Together with the local authorities’ own contribution, this results in a total investment volume for public school construction of around 817 million euros.
Furthermore, the local authority level will receive 1.74 billion euros as part of the so-called ‘Local Investment Budget’. Under this budget, independent cities, districts and municipalities within districts can decide independently whether to allocate further funds for investment in schools and childcare centres.
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