Protests in two centers in Zaragoza due to the lack of equipment in the 'back to school'

Parents and students at the CPI Zaragoza Sur have demanded the arrival of prefabricated classrooms to be able to accommodate all Secondary students, while at the CEIP María Zambrano they complain about cuts in staff and furniture

ARAGON NEWS / 09/09/2024 - 14:58

Parents and students of the Zaragoza Sur school protested this Monday at the doors of the center due to the lack of classrooms

The beginning of the course has also been marked by several protests in two centers in the Aragonese capital, specifically at the CPI Zaragoza Sur , in the Rosales del Canal neighborhood , where a group of parents and students have gathered to demand the arrival of prefabricated classrooms, while at the CEIP María Zambrano, in Parque Venecia, they complain about cuts in staff and furniture.

The Minister of Education, Tomasa Hernández, indicated this Monday in statements to the media that the prefabricated classrooms of the CPI Zaragoza Sur will be ready "in two or three weeks."

The Department of Education has already awarded the works for the  transformation of the CEIP Zaragoza Sur into an Integrated Public Center (CPI) for an amount of 6,633,117.15 euros  (VAT included), to the company Construcciones Mariano López Navarro.

The CPI Zaragoza Sur, located at Antonio Vivaldi Street, number 7, in Zaragoza, was created in 2018 by transforming the old Zaragoza Sur Early Childhood and Primary Education School. The teachings taught are Early Childhood Education, Primary Education and Secondary Education.

It is a three-way center and, at the moment, there are seven groups enrolled in ESO who teach their classes in prefabricated classrooms as the infrastructure has not been built. The awarded work includes the construction of 12 Secondary units at the CPI Zaragoza Sur in Zaragoza.

The expected period of execution of the work is 15 months , with a partial occupation after ten months for its commissioning in the 2025-2026 school year of ten multipurpose classrooms, patio, track and adaptation of the porch. It is expected that the works can begin at the end of September.

Other mobilizations

Family associations, political parties and educational unions announced last week  mobilizations on September 18 to protest what they call "improvisation" and "chaos" at the beginning of the school year in Aragon . They report that there is a reduction in hours in schools that will affect support and attention programs for students.

In addition, they criticize the late incorporation of the interim staff - one day before the start of the course - which, they say, makes the organization of the schools difficult. They also ask for more dialogue with the Department of Education and for the current educational policy to be rethought.

The technical general secretary of Education of the Government of Aragon, Manuel Magdaleno, pointed out this Monday in an interview on Aragón TV that these are "ideological or political" mobilizations, and that there is "no underlying reason", while defending that in this academic year, for example, the number of special education assistants has doubled, or an agreement has been established, yet to be signed by the unions, to improve both schedules and salaries.