A presentation of the ambitious education plan was held yesterday at the Médano Hotel in Granadilla de Abona, attended by several mayors and council members from the South. The aim of the plan is to address the long-standing shortage of educational infrastructure in the area, which has been labelled a “red zone” due to a significant population increase in municipalities like Arona, Granadilla de Abona, Adeje, and San Miguel de Abona, all of which have tripled their population figures since the beginning of the century.
Classroom overcrowding has made the southern region of Tenerife the area in the Canary Islands with the highest concentration of modular classrooms. One prominent example is the Guaza barracks, which have been in use for over 20 years. The plan now is to gradually phase out these temporary classrooms with the new construction projects.
The Minister of Education, Poli Suárez, introduced a comprehensive document prepared over the past five months, outlining the construction of 10 new educational facilities and the expansion of 17 existing ones between now and 2031. The total planned investment is €77.7 million, of which €8.8 million has already been allocated.
Suárez emphasised that this plan is realistic and has been formulated based on the identified needs by the Ministry’s Schooling Service and Educational Inspection, as well as input from local councils. A crucial requirement has been the availability of land for proposed actions.
Both the Minister and the Director of Educational Infrastructure and Equipment, Iván González, highlighted that the plan will undergo annual updates every June, concerning both the implementation schedule and financing details, to accommodate any changes. Any modifications will be promptly published on the Ministry of Education’s website.
CONSTRUCTION PLANS BY MUNICIPALITIES
Among the upcoming projects is the construction of a Special Education Centre (CEE) with a school residence in Parque de la Reina, Arona. This centre will provide 100 educational places and 30 residential spaces – a service currently offered only at the CEE Hermano Pedro in Ofra, Santa Cruz.
Additionally, an Integrated Vocational Training Centre (CIFP) is set to be built near the Ichasagua institute in Los Cristianos. Construction plans also include an expansion of existing facilities such as El Médano, Magallanes, and Los Cardones secondary schools, as well as Abona, Los Abrigos, and Froilán Hernández primary schools, with the latter to receive a new dining area.
Other developments include a new CIFP in San Isidro and a CEO in Granadilla de Abona, with the municipality providing a building for the former. Adeje will see the completion of a new Integrated Vocational Training Centre and a Special Education Centre, in addition to a new primary school in Tijoco Bajo.
San Miguel de Abona will have a new institute and school in Las Chafiras, while Vilaflor de Chasna will witness the expansion of the CEO Hermano Pedro with the addition of a dining facility. Santiago del Teide and Arico are also included in the plan with expansions and new constructions at various educational institutions.
Lastly, Candelaria will feature a new dining area at CEIP Punta Larga, Arafo will see an expansion of the Andrés Orozco Compulsory Education Centre with new sports area changing rooms, and Fasnia will increase the capacity of CEO Guajara with the addition of three new classrooms.
