The tragedy that struck Antwerp four years ago when a school under construction collapsed, killing five workers, is still hanging over the new school – set to welcome pupils on Monday
The primary school in Antwerp’s Nieuwe Zuid neighbourhood that collapsed four years ago during construction, killing five labourers, will open on the first day of school next Monday. The tragedy in June of 2021 highlighted a lack of responsibility among general contractors when it comes to safety regulations. There were stability problems on the site that were apparently known by the contractor.
The school was able to be safely built on the site following the collapse. K’do primary school has moved into the new building, known as KUUB. Pupils, parents and school staff held a minute’s silence during the move, in honour of the construction workers killed on the site. The silence was followed by a song dedicated to the workers.
“We still feel the trauma,” says Sharon Kleynnaert, director of the school. “But we have been able to work through it. Everyone is handling it very well at the moment.”
K’do is sharing the new building with the dé! Kunsthumaniora secondary school. “We have worked extremely hard to get everything ready over the last few weeks,” says Kleynnaert. “We are really looking forward to welcoming pupils now that all of the classrooms are fully equipped.”
Both schools were in desperate need of more space – the primary school did not have an adequate playground, and the secondary school had not area to eat lunch. “We have everything we ever dreamed of here,” says Kleynnaert.