The Barquín Foundation, tenant of the building, has decided not to renew the rental contract
The Department of Education is relocating the students of CEIP El Pedregal in Castro Urdiales to other public schools in the municipality due to the closure of the school because the tenant of the building, the Barquín Foundation, has decided not to renew the rental contract, a situation that also affects the Miguel Hernández school adjacent to it.
During a press conference before the start of the sectorial meeting between unions and the Government scheduled for this Thursday, the councilor of the area, Sergio Silva, detailed that this situation has led his department to relocate the students from both schools to other classrooms in the locality where they will remain for the next school years.
Silva has guaranteed that Education is relocating all affected students – approximately 80 of different age groups – to schools in the municipality, along with four teachers, to ensure that all schooling «does not leave Castro.»
Meanwhile, classes at the school will continue until all students are in their new destination, as indicated by sources from the Department to Europa Press.
In addition, the Education official has pointed out that the possibility of having all students together in the same center «is difficult» and that they will be offered a center «as close to their home as possible, including cases from outside Castro.»
As explained, the Department, which met with the Foundation today, has started a process of information this week about the situation with both the school’s management team, with whom they met on Tuesday, and with the families who will meet on Friday, as it was planned for them to meet on Tuesday as well, but it was not possible due to scheduling conflicts with those affected, he noted.
Finally, he affirmed that the Government is open «to do what is most reasonable and least inconvenient» for the educational community.
UGT REJECTS THE CLOSURE
In a statement, the Education Sector of the UGT-Public Services Federation has rejected the closure of the school, which they have described as «unacceptable,» and which causes «overcrowding in other centers to compensate for it.»
Likewise, they have demanded negotiations between the Department and the Barquín Foundation «to ensure the continuity of public education in Castro Urdiales.»
On the other hand, the union has warned that «increasing problems» are being detected in Infant and Primary schools located in the rural areas of Cantabria due to «the shortage of teaching staff,» as in Valdeolea, where «students with educational needs are accumulating without the necessary teaching staff.»
