SCHOOL PROTESTS GATHER PACE ON COSTA

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As the Association of Parents of Students from the Colegio Publico Playas de Orihuela (APA CEIP Playas de Orihuela) continue to protest against the prefabricated conditions in their school they now say that they will stage a formal demonstration outside the college, through to the end of the current term, at 8:30 a.m. on every Monday morning.

They say that whilst they continue to be without brick built premises for over a decade this is an insult to the 33,000 residents living in the area and they will continue to take whatever steps they are able in their bid to achieve a college education worthy of their children.

One spokesperson told the Leader that despite a statement from the Valencia Department of Education indicating that investments in such buildings are most unlikely due to the current economic situation “we know that schools are still being built in the community, in places where portable classrooms have been installed for a much shorter period than here on the Orihuela Costa.

We have no choice but to continue our protest at what we consider to be the neglect of community leaders of all political persuasions who continue to ignore the central needs in terms of infrastructure and services that are vital to us here on the Orihuela Costa. None of us can understand why such a densely populated area has only one brick build school.”

But the Leader understands that the current protests now go well beyond those which started off as a demonstration against the school fabric. With the gradual decline in the local expatriate population leading to a reduction in the number of children current in full time education there now comes with it the threat of job losses amongst school staff. Coupled with cuts in education budgets across the whole community and the fact that, despite Government warnings regarding the absolute necessity of obtaining La Ponencia, the qualification needed by anyone wishing to enter into the education system, teachers are now joining in with the demonstrations to protest at job losses.

We are all well aware that quality education is required, to enable persons, societies and nations to acquire the skills and competencies required for living meaningfully in a competitive world. The teacher is central point of the whole educational programme and teaching is said to be nation building activity. Without the support of good teachers this cannot be done. Teachers must be skilled and in possession of the necessary qualifications to carry out such tasks, something about which the government are becoming increasingly vocal.

For many years, whilst there has been a shortfall in teaching staff, the government has turned a ‘blind eye’ to the many recent entrants into the profession who are without the necessary qualifications. A little over a year ago, however, they gave a 12 month period of grace, as they issued notice that those without La Ponencia must take early steps to qualify.

In many cases the warning seems to have gone unheeded and now, with the threat of redundancies looming, it would appear to be those individuals without the qualification, the vast majority in the primary school system, which will be the first such staff to be targeted. As such the school demonstrations appear to be gathering pace.

The parent’s won´t give up, nor will the children or their teachers. Only time will tell how this action will reflect on the generations of the future, the decision makers, the scientists, the doctors of tomorrow, if they are not able to get the education they need.

But what is really disturbing is the apparent lack of local political support, regardless of party, any politician who might be willing to join with the parents and teachers, to stand up for their plight, representing them through local and regional government circles as they continue to fight for a decent standard of education for their children.

We all remember 2011 when so many promised so much in the lead up to the local and national elections, but where are those politicians now? Many parents feel they have been let down and have lost any respect they might have had for their chosen representatives, who they now feel have used them to get a vote and are no longer there to support them on the ground for the most basic of human rights.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/38651/

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