The Junta de Andalucía said on Thursday that it is working on the preliminary technical and administrative procedures needed to move forward with drafting the project for a new secondary school in Manilva. According to the Regional Delegation for Educational Development and Vocational Training, the procedure will be sped up because the initiative is included in the regional budget and has the formal request of the Town Hall.
The regional administration released this information after learning of a letter sent by several parent-teacher associations (AMPAs) from Manilva and Casares to the Andalusian Ombudsman for Children and to the Junta itself. The letter sets out the situation at the municipality’s current secondary school, IES Las Viñas, and the repeated requests made by the Town Hall. It also describes the widespread exasperation of families in recent days, who have decided to take action by meeting all the political parties to bring this need before the regional parliament, as they feel totally ignored by the Provincial Education Delegation.
The letter is backed by the associations of the Pablo Picasso, San Luis de Sabinillas and Maicandil schools in Manilva, as well as by the Blas Infante school in Casares, the Las Viñas secondary school itself and the school’s student group, known as Cicerones. In the letter, the families criticise the lack of maintenance at the school and the damage caused by the recent storms.
The AMPAs also describe the overcrowding at the school, which was originally designed for about 700 students and currently has around 1,400. They explain that several areas of the school, such as the cafeteria, the laboratory, the library and the staff room, have been converted into classrooms, while the prefabricated classrooms have been in place for almost two decades.
Procedures for the project
In view of this situation, the Regional Delegation has said that it is currently engaged in the preliminary administrative and technical procedures before the start of the drafting phase of the project for the new school.
It also stated that the Andalusian Public Education Agency is working to speed up the procedure «as much as possible», bearing in mind that the Town Hall’s formal request has already been submitted and that the project is included in the Junta de Andalucía’s budget.
Maintenance work at the school
While the definition of the new school moves forward, the Delegation highlighted that maintenance work continues at IES Las Viñas.
This includes waterproofing of the roof and skylights and other repairs planned for this school year, at a cost of 220,000 euros. In addition, there is 29,942.45 euros from the Plan Mejora tu centro 2024 earmarked for upgrading the electrical and sanitary facilities.
Furthermore, during the current school year 31,759.73 euros have been invested in minor works and a further 60,000 euros have been allocated to thermal comfort measures.
In total, according to the Regional Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training, 341,702.18 euros have been allocated over the last two school years to improve the school’s facilities.
Regarding the request made by the mayors of Manilva and Casares for a meeting with the regional education delegate in Málaga, Miguel Briones, the delegation said it is working to arrange that meeting.
PSOE, VOX and IU in the Andalusian Parliament
Meanwhile, the PSOE of Andalucía has announced that it will call for the construction of a second secondary school in Manilva in the Andalusian Parliament. The party’s secretary for Education, Patricia Alba, made the announcement after meeting parents of students.
Alba said that population growth in the area makes a new school necessary. She explained that, although the current school was extended in the past, she considers it necessary to increase the number of school places.
Likewise, the VOX member of parliament and deputy chair of the Committee for Educational Development, Antonio Sevilla, will call on the Regional Ministry of Education to explain the «unacceptable situation» faced by the people of Manilva.
The VOX Parliamentary Group in Andalucía has asked the Regional Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training about the «unacceptable situation» in Manilva, where families have once again reported the congestion and overcrowding at IES Las Viñas.
This evening it emerged that Izquierda Unida will also present these needs at the next parliamentary session through its representatives.
The various AMPAs will continue their efforts and today launched a petition which has already been signed by more than 600 people in under 10 hours: https://www.change.org/p/solicitar-la-construcci%C3%B3n-de-un-nuevo-instituto-en-manilva
