On the first day of the new school year on Monday the mayor was out visiting classrooms around the municipality. It was noted, however, that he chose to give the Orihuela Costa a wide berth, where, according to educational sources there were 200 children unable to start school because of the lack of space in the coast’s two schools, Los Dolses and Playas de Orihuela, which are both overflowing and cannot cope with the demand for places.
Their situation has not ben helped by an Education Councillor who continues to drag his feet with the delayed opening of the new centre Number 20, which will be located on a plot of land in Calle Níspero, Los Dolses.
The temporary facility was planned in late 2022 with the opening set for September 2023 but following many months of delay, caused by the inability of the council to determine a site, we will have to wait until January or February next year before it can finally open.
When it does finally open, the project envisages the implementation of a prefabricated school with a kindergarten and a primary school: two classrooms per level for about 300 students.
Both of the existing public schools on the coast have exhausted all their available space and are unable to accommodate more classrooms, with the number of students per class at the highest level in the Valencian Community, along with those in Torrevieja.
Once again the Parent and Teachers Associations are critical of the council’s lack of progress with a situation that continues to put the education of their children at risk, with a spokesperson telling the Leader that they do not rule out further demonstrations similar to those carried out in June.
