The PSOE headquarters in Manilva hosted a meeting last night between Socialist representatives and members of the parents’ associations (AMPAS) of Manilva and Casares to discuss the overcrowding that, according to families, is affecting IES Las Viñas. During the meeting, calls were once again made for a new secondary school to be built in the municipality.
The meeting was attended by PSOE representatives at regional, provincial and local level, who conveyed to the families their support for the demands of the education community. Those present included Patricia Alba, PSOE Andalucía secretary for Education and member of parliament; José Bernal, PSOE Málaga secretary for Organisation and provincial councillor; Francisco Becerra, secretary general of PSOE Manilva; Diego José Jiménez, spokesperson for the Socialist group on the Town Hall; as well as Concepción Benítez, local secretary for Education and Associations, and Ángel Gil, local secretary for Infrastructure and Works.
The meeting looked at the situation at IES Las Viñas, a school which, according to figures presented by the AMPAS and the PSOE itself, was designed for around 700 pupils but currently has close to 1,400 students. The families expressed their concern about the lack of space, the presence of prefabricated classrooms and the condition of some facilities, which they believe affect the educational conditions of the pupils.
The PSOE recalled that the problem is not new and that, as they point out, as far back as 2021 Manilva Town Hall, then governed by the Socialists, made available to the Junta de Andalucía some land next to the current school to allow it to be extended. They explained that the regional administration accepted the land and announced the start of works, although the project was ultimately never carried out.
The Socialist representatives also said that the situation at the school has been taken to the Andalusian Parliament. The Socialist Parliamentary Group registered a first question on 22 May 2025 asking about the extension of the school or the construction of a new one. Subsequently, on 6 February 2026 a new parliamentary initiative was submitted asking the Regional Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training for information on the actions planned to resolve the school’s lack of space.
According to the PSOE, both initiatives still have no clear response from the Andalusian Government. The Socialists believe that the lack of progress reflects, in their view, a lack of commitment by the Junta de Andalucía to public education in growing municipalities such as Manilva.
The organisers said the meeting took place in an atmosphere of dialogue between political representatives and family representatives, with the aim of sharing concerns and coordinating possible actions to push for the construction of a new educational facility in the municipality.
PSOE representatives from Manilva, Málaga and Andalucía pledged to continue supporting the demands of the AMPAS and to maintain institutional pressure so that the new secondary school in Manilva becomes a reality. They said they will report on the actions to be launched following this meeting in the coming weeks.
Representatives of the various AMPAS will continue to meet with all the political groups and associations involved to establish exactly where the project has stalled, in order to unblock the situation and keep moving towards the launch of this much-needed educational facility in the municipality.
