The threat hanging over the former Charles III school has now forced a decisive break: students from Albert I High School will not return to the Annonciade site…
After just three months, the temporary relocation has been abandoned, as reinforcement work on the unstable embankment escalates and safety concerns take precedence.
According to the Prince’s Government, the scale of the engineering works now required makes any return impossible. Heavy equipment must be deployed, part of the eastern wall of the former Charles III building dismantled, and sections of the site neutralised entirely. In these conditions, maintaining a functioning school environment is no longer considered viable. The priority has shifted to accelerating renovation work at Albert I High School in Monaco-Ville, with the aim of reopening by the end of the spring holidays on April 27.
In the meantime, the challenge is immediate and complex. From January 5, teaching will resume remotely for at least one week, affecting 840 students, their teachers and support staff. Authorities insist this will be short-lived, particularly for pupils preparing for the baccalaureate, and that extended distance learning is not an option.
Temporary classroom space is now being assembled across the Principality. Sites under consideration include former International School of Monaco facilities on Quai Antoine Ier and the Naval Museum complex in Fontvieille, with further locations under review. Between 35 and 40 classrooms are needed, and final decisions are expected within days.
While sporting activities may continue at Annonciade if conditions allow, the message is clear: safety comes first, even if it means reshaping the school year at speed.
