The Mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, and Councillor for Education, Vicente Pina, recently held a working meeting with Xaro Escrig, Director General for Educational Innovation and Inclusion at the Generalitat Valenciana, to jointly assess the current provision for special education across the municipality.
During the meeting, local authorities outlined the key needs expressed by schools in Orihuela in relation to pupils requiring specific educational support. Councillor Pina emphasized the urgency of the matter: “This is a priority for us. We’re talking about children who need dedicated, properly adapted resources in order to thrive.”
Currently, Orihuela hosts Special Education Units (UECO) integrated within mainstream schools, including CEIP Josefina Manresa, Fernando de Loazes, Miguel Hernández, Los Dolses (Orihuela Costa), and Playas de Orihuela (Dehesa de Campoamor). In addition, the Diocesan School Oratorio Festivo de San Miguel provides four dedicated Special Education classrooms and two Integration Support Units, catering to children with a range of needs including intellectual, motor, and developmental disabilities.
Looking ahead, local leaders are advocating for the inclusion of a specialised classroom within the planned Integrated Vocational Training Centre, ensuring continued support beyond compulsory schooling. They also highlighted the ongoing work of the Antonio Sequeros Special Education Centre, which provides high-level care for students with more severe needs.
“We’ve also raised the necessity to expand or adapt existing units,” said Pina, “so that we can better respond to the growing demand for inclusive educational resources—especially with the development of new education facilities across the municipality.”
As part of her visit, Director General Escrig toured the Josefina Manresa and Fernando de Loazes primary schools, gaining direct insight into the day-to-day operations and engaging with school leadership and professionals in diversity support.
Both the Mayor and the Councillor for Education expressed their appreciation for Escrig’s visit and her proactive stance. “We’re grateful for her openness and genuine concern for improving educational equity,” said Mayor Vegara. “Her presence here gives us confidence that practical solutions are on the horizon.”
Vegara concluded by stressing, “In education, there must be no first- or second-tier students—every child deserves equal opportunity.” Councillor Pina echoed the sentiment, calling the meeting “an important and productive step toward a more inclusive educational model, with the resources our students deserve.”
