PSOE councillor María García has voiced deep concern over the troubled opening of the third school in Orihuela Costa. “Four days after the launch of the new school housed in temporary accommodation, instead of being a cause for celebration, it has become a series of unresolved problems, creating uncertainty and frustration among families and the educational community.
The Orihuela government has remained silent, failing to address public concerns or demand the necessary resources from the regional government. It’s truly disappointing.”
García highlighted that the public only found out through the media that what was being opened was not actually a new school but rather an extension of the existing Playas de Orihuela School. “This should have been made clear to families from the beginning, but unfortunately, it wasn’t.” She also pointed out severe shortcomings, including a lack of teachers, no school transportation, and delays in launching the cafeteria service—all essential components for any properly functioning school.
“How Can This Happen in March?”
Expressing her frustration, García questioned:
“How is it possible that in the middle of March, we are dealing with these issues?”
She criticized the lack of planning, saying:
“After so many delays and broken promises, this school has been opened without the basics: no proper staffing, no infrastructure, and no planning. This lack of foresight is affecting children, families, and teachers. How can a school open without even knowing if it has a leadership team? How can it be acceptable for the school community to be left in the dark and completely disoriented?”
The councillor also condemned the local and regional government’s silence, stating:
“No one has stepped forward to explain how this situation was handled or what measures will be taken to ensure that, by next week, students can study under minimally acceptable conditions. The Education Councilor has chosen to dodge responsibility, pretending this issue is not his concern. But it is—he was elected to defend the interests of the people of Orihuela, not to stay silent in the face of poor decisions.”
“The Government’s Attitude is Unacceptable”
García criticized the Education Department’s lack of accountability, stating:
“The local government’s attitude is completely unacceptable. While the regional government makes decisions without consulting the educational community, the Education Councilor is trying to wash his hands of any responsibility. This is unacceptable. What we are witnessing is the result of a series of bad decisions that are not only affecting education in Orihuela Costa but also eroding parents’ trust in our institutions.”
She warned that ignoring the issue will not make it go away:
“If the Education Councilor or the Mayor think this problem will disappear by staying silent, they are mistaken. Parents, teachers, and the entire educational community deserve a clear, honest, and, above all, responsible explanation.”
“Education in Orihuela Cannot Continue to Be Improvised”
The PSOE councilor demanded that local authorities take responsibility:
“They must step up, explain how and why this situation has happened, and take action to ensure it never happens again. Education in Orihuela cannot continue to be an improvisation.”
Finally, García warned that the chaos surrounding the school’s opening is a preview of what could happen in September if the Palmeral High School is closed:
“Today, more than ever, we demand transparency and accountability. It is clear that both the regional government and the Education Councilor have lost what little trust and credibility they had left. Families now see more clearly than ever that eliminating El Palmeral in September will be a disaster.”
