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School number 20 in Orihuela, the third educational institution on the coast, is set to open its doors in the first half of February. Councillor for Education Vicente Pina confirmed this development during a plenary session held on Thursday.
While he refrained from specifying an exact date, Pina said that preparations to equip the classrooms are progressing well.
The primary goal is to alleviate overcrowding in the two existing schools on the coast, CEIP Los Dolses and CEIP Playas de Orihuela.
The announcement came in response to a motion presented by opposition councillor Enrique Montero of Cambiemos. Montero raised concerns about classroom saturation in Orihuela Costa and proposed several measures, including the expansion of CEIP Los Dolses, the evaluation and extension of CEIP Playas de Orihuela, the construction of a third permanent school, the establishment of a second secondary school, and the reactivation of the Edificant Plan.
The regional government plan initially included these initiatives, but progress stalled following the appointment of Carlos Mazón’s administration.
SITE PREPARATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
The new school will temporarily operate using prefabricated structures. Recent weeks have seen significant efforts to prepare the municipal site, which required resurfacing and cleaning.
The City Council has allocated €189,288 for site adaptation and an additional €17,496.12 for pre-cleaning. The location, on Calle Níspero, previously housed Playas de Orihuela for almost 15 years before its permanent facility was constructed.
The Ministry of Education has also played a role in equipping the new facility. In recent days, eight trucks loaded with furniture and materials have arrived, ensuring that the school will be ready to accommodate students.
Pina acknowledged the efforts of Raúl Fernández, a PP advisor and pedania of Campoamor, in overseeing the process.
Despite these advancements, Pina refused to support Montero’s motion, citing criticism of the current government’s management. He dismissed these accusations as “false,” stating that approving the motion would imply that the administration had done nothing in the past year and a half.
THE DELAY OF THE EDIFICANT PLAN
Pina emphasised that the designated site for a permanent brick-and-mortar school has already been proposed to the Regional Ministry. As outlined by Urban Planning Councillor Matías Ruiz, the site is located on Calle Limonero within the La Cuerda development. However, the plan remains on hold, awaiting action from the Regional Ministry.
Pina acknowledged that reactivating the Edificant Plan remains unlikely in the near future. He pointed to the October Dana storm, which significantly impacted the southern regions of Valencia. The Generalitat has redirected much of its resources toward recovery efforts, delaying previously planned projects, including the expansion of CEIP Los Dolses, despite available land for the project.
Although CEIP Playas de Orihuela faces overcrowding, Pina confirmed that no prefabricated classrooms have been installed in its yard. However, he did not rule out the possibility of adding temporary units if the student population continues to grow in Orihuela Costa.
OUTSOURCING MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Another key issue raised by Cambiemos was the need to expedite the tender process for educational facility maintenance. Currently, municipal staff handle maintenance services, but they face significant limitations in resources and funding.
The previous administration, led by the PSOE, had initiated plans to outsource these services, but progress has been slow. Despite assessed reports being completed before 2023, no concrete steps had been taken.
Pina stated that the tender specifications are now finalized and will be released soon. He expressed confidence that, by the start of the next academic year (September or October), schools will have a dedicated maintenance service in place.
Due to the lack of municipal resources, some schools have had to fund emergency repairs using their limited budgets. For instance, CEIP Los Dolses recently repaired a collapsing courtyard wall using its own funds.
DEFINING RESPONSIBILITIES: MUNICIPAL VS. REGIONAL POWERS
Pina also addressed the ongoing confusion regarding the responsibilities of local and regional governments in maintaining school infrastructure. While local councils are responsible for maintenance, some repairs, such as replacing blinds, could be considered investments rather than routine upkeep. Investments fall under the jurisdiction of the regional government.
Additionally, Pina pointed out that the law allows parent-teacher associations (Ampas) to make financial contributions or donations to improve school facilities in exceptional cases. However, relying on such measures is not a sustainable solution for addressing the structural issues facing schools in Orihuela Costa.
As the opening of the new school approaches, residents and officials alike remain hopeful that these temporary solutions will provide much-needed relief while long-term plans for education infrastructure continue to unfold.
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