The Department of Education of Altea intervenes urgently to resume the school transport service to El Blanquinal and Les Rotes

The users of the school transport service of the El Blanquinal and Les Rotes schools in Altea were greatly surprised on Tuesday when they found themselves 'stranded' at their stops due to an unannounced interruption of this service which, after the urgent intervention of the Department of Education of Villa Blanca, has returned to normal today, Wednesday.

After this episode and given the concern expressed by the educational community of both centers, the Department of Education has revealed through a statement that it is doing everything possible to prevent its users, who sources from that area have estimated at 25 in conversation with TodoAlicante, from seeing a service interrupted that, according to those same sources, has been compromised by a debt dating back to 2022 and for which the Altea town hall claims no responsibility.

According to the Department of Education of Villa Blanca, the entity responsible for managing this bus service for the students of El Blanquinal and Les Rotes is the School Transport Association which, based on that statement, "is facing a serious financial situation that has generated concern among parents," but also, they added, among "local authorities."

From Education they explain that "recently, it has been evidenced that the association has an outstanding debt with the bus company providing the service, accumulated since 2022." A debt that would have been generated "despite having received annually from the City Council 15,000 euros to cover transportation costs," thus implying poor management by those responsible for the School Transport Association.

Municipal sources have explained that this situation of concern has led parents of affected students to go to the City Council and, more specifically, to the Department of Education seeking answers and solutions. However, they emphasize, "according to the established agreement, the City Council has fulfilled its financial obligations by making payments to the association, being it who did not make payments to the company in 2022."

From the town hall of Villa Blanca it has been stated that the company "warned the association last June that the service was not going to continue due to accumulated debt" and that it was those responsible for this latter who "did not inform the parents" who therefore "were unaware of this situation" at the beginning of this school year.

Additionally, from the Department of Education they warn that "the lack of justification for expenses by the association has further complicated the situation since the City Council has fulfilled all payments to the association managing school transport."

It is also emphasized in that same statement that "the City Council reiterates its commitment to education and student welfare and is working to find a solution that guarantees safe and efficient transportation for children to school." To this end, "meetings are being held with the association and transport company to clarify the situation and seek alternatives to prevent students from being affected by this situation."

The councilor for education herself, Xelo González, explained to TodoAlicante that after yesterday's temporary interruption of service on Tuesday, it was resumed today once the town hall committed with the School Transport Association to increase funding for this purpose in 2025 so that this organization can meet this debt acquired more than two years ago.