€30 million federal grant

At their meeting on 26 November 2020, members of the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee agreed to provide a grant of €30 million for the renovation of the listed school and dormitory buildingsat the former Joachimsthalsches Gymnasium in Templin. Over the coming years, those funds will be used to restore the historic ensemble.

The est is expected to welcome its first pupils in the 2024/25 academic year. The European idea lies at the heart of the new school. Here, young people from different European countries can experience a Europe in miniature, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, developing into committed Europeans, and gaining an holistic perspective on shared European culture. With its geographical location in eastern Germany, the est is predestined to become a bridge between Western and Eastern Europe.

“This is a big step forwards in our project to establish the est. The commitment of the federal and state governments and of the private foundation has made this success possible, and I would thank everyone who has worked with such dedication and determination towards realising our goals – in particular the Bundestag members. I would also like to thank the people of Templin for their years of support for our school project. I am very, very happy.”
Henrike Reemtsma, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Stiftung Gebäudeensemble Joachimthalsches Gymnasium Templin.

“The est will make an important contribution to the development of the region and firmly establish Templin as a location of educational excellence in both Germany and Europe.”
Franc Höfermann-Kiefer, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors