New €800k Vocational School Opens in Figueiró dos Vinhos
The Agostinho Roseta Professional School is set to open its newest branch in Figueiró dos Vinhos this Monday, marking a significant milestone for vocational education in the northern Leiria district. The school welcomes 82 students into its inaugural classes, signaling a fresh chapter for the region’s educational landscape.
A Tech-Focused Curriculum
Luís Azinheira, chairman of the Agostinho Roseta Association, confirmed that the students are enrolled in 10th-grade equivalent vocational tracks. The curriculum is heavily focused on the digital economy, with 26 students pursuing Systems, Computing, and Network Technology; 27 enrolled in Multimedia; and 29 studying Software Development.
The three-year programs provide graduates with a secondary education certification equivalent to the 12th grade, equipping them with both academic credentials and practical technical skills.
An €800,000 Transformation
The school is housed in a revitalized building formerly owned by EDP (Energias de Portugal). The renovation was an extensive and costly undertaking, totaling approximately €800,000. According to Azinheira, the structure required an almost complete overhaul.
“The building is practically all new because it was impossible to recover almost anything that was there,” Azinheira explained. “Even the roof, which we initially thought was in good condition, had to be entirely replaced.”
The project faced an unexpected setback on January 28, when Depression Kristin battered the region, causing enough damage to require the roof to be rebuilt a second time. The final costs for those storm-related repairs are still being calculated.
Boosting the Local Economy
The opening is expected to provide a socioeconomic lift to the Figueiró dos Vinhos area. Azinheira emphasized that many students are coming from outside the immediate region, including international students from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) such as Mozambique, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
“These students will boost the local economy and local commerce,” Azinheira noted, highlighting the school’s role as a driver for regional development.
About the Agostinho Roseta Professional School
Managed by the Agostinho Roseta Association—a non-profit entity formed by 12 trade union organizations—the school is named after the prominent General Workers’ Union (UGT) leader who passed away in 1995. Headquartered in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações, the school now operates branches in Lisbon, Vila Real, Castelo Branco, Crato, Sesimbra, and Figueiró dos Vinhos, serving a total of 600 students across 27 classes.
Image: Pexels – Mikhail Nilov
