Orihuela Costa families and teachers demand solutions after 175 days without heating or air conditioning

The School Council and the Parents’ Association (AFA) of the CEIP Playas de Orihuela school have publicly denounced the “serious situation” at the school, which they claim is a concern that affects all public schools in Orihuela. These criticisms from the school community were made evident on March 23rd, when families and residents convened in front of the Orihuela City Hall to demand immediate action to ensure the students’ well-being and appropriate education.

The furnace that has been out of service for two years is the source of the conflict, resulting in the school being without heating for 175 days this school year, as per the families’ own count. This deficiency is further exacerbated by the absence of sufficient air conditioning, a condition that signals the onset of severe complications with the onset of milder weather. Furthermore, the circumstances generate apprehensions regarding the safety of the facilities, particularly in relation to the status of mandatory technical inspections (OCA), which is a source of concern for parents.

Since 2018

The structure is less than ten years old. It is the most recent educational facility in the municipality. It was initially intended to serve as a Line 3 school, with the capacity to accommodate 540 students. However, the school community’s decade-long campaign culminated in its opening in 2018.

However, the current enrolment of 660 students necessitates the completion of certain educational levels with four lines, or four classrooms per course. This is despite the fact that the Generalitat has ultimately enabled a third center in barracks to alleviate the demand on the Orihuela coast.

This excess is a result of the absence of “basic cultural and educational infrastructure, such as libraries, museums, or cultural spaces, on the Orihuela Costa, in contrast to Orihuela city, which leaves students without external support resources.”

Convening

The administration has been apprised of the situation on numerous occasions; however, solutions have not yet been implemented. The sixth meeting between representatives of the educational community and the municipal government team, which included the mayor and the councillors for Education, Infrastructure, Human Resources, and Finance, was held on March 18th.

At that meeting, the potential for the implementation of lesser contracts of up to €15,000 per centre was discussed, with an estimated approval timeframe of one month. “However, no genuine resolution has been achieved to date, which has exacerbated dissatisfaction.” Additionally, the structural work is further delayed by the necessity of restarting the overall maintenance contract, which represents an investment of over €6 million.

The local administration has the option to override the negative report from the Intervention Department and resolve the provision of essential supplies and works through direct contracting. Nevertheless, the Councillor for Education, Vicente Pina, and the Councillor for Infrastructure, Víctor Sigüenza, are not inclined to take this action, as per the same sources.

During the meetings, the school community did not hesitate to refer to the management as “unsustainable.” The complaints are centred on the continuous delays in maintenance, the ineffective resolution of problems, and the insufficient staff and material resources, as perceived by families.

In addition, there are administrative constraints that impede rapid action and a significant lack of coordination among the various administrations, as disagreements over powers obstruct necessary interventions, such as technical evaluations.

According to sources from the Parents’ Association, the situation is “absurd” from the perspective of municipal management. The mayor responds to the needs of the centre by stating that “that is a matter for the councillor of Infrastructure” or the “councillor of Education,” who are members of his team. Additionally, Vegara has the authority to directly commission the promotion of contracts or orders without a contract in the face of urgent and essential needs.

School Council

The School Council and the Parents’ Association insist on the necessity of a comprehensive, coordinated, and imperative response from all City Council departments in light of this situation. Their demands are unequivocal: the immediate repair of the furnace and the installation of air conditioning, a comprehensive technical inspection of the facilities, the acceleration of maintenance procedures, and a genuine investment in the educational and cultural infrastructure of the region. Additionally, they advocate for the implementation of appropriate educational planning and the reduction of class sizes.

The educational community demands genuine equality of opportunity for the Orihuela Costa, emphasising that this is not about politics but about ensuring the dignity, safety, and future of our children.