Schools in Playa de San Juan Demand Decent Facilities with a Chocolate Event

Parents and Teachers Associations from the ten public educational centres in Playa de San Juan organised a protest event this Friday, serving hot chocolate to demand the construction of a new educational centre in PAU 5.

The 'For a Dignified Space to Learn' platform, comprising the local educational community, highlighted that schools and institutes are "overcrowded" and opposed the expansion of centres with new temporary classrooms. "We want a quality, inclusive, and integrative public education, and for that, we need a dignified space to learn," they stated in a communiqué.

The platform emphasised that after years of pressure, construction has begun on La Almadraba school. However, they insist on the need for new centres. They report over 11 prefabricated classrooms in the area, excesses of 200 students, and losses of laboratories or music, art, or gym facilities in poor condition. Therefore, they consider it "essential" for the Ministry of Education to "immediately initiate procedures for the construction of a new secondary school in the PAU 5 area."

The protest began at 5 p.m. in a festive and demanding atmosphere at the park on Historiador Vicente Ramos Street 1, near the Post Office in Cabo de la Huerta. During the gathering, hot chocolate and snacks were distributed to attending families, and recreational activities were organised for the children. The event aimed to gather as many voices as possible to demand dignified learning spaces from the authorities.

Last Thursday, unions called for improvements to the educational infrastructure in the Playa de San Juan, Cabo de la Huerta, and PAU 5 areas. In a statement, they listed demands such as the construction of new toilets for students, the elimination of temporary classrooms, and the restoration of specialised rooms that have been converted into regular classrooms due to the high number of students.