The school population in Orihuela Costa has seen an unstoppable rise in recent years, but this Tuesday’s return to classes occurs amidst a significant crisis. Following a public holiday, families are grappling with overcrowded classrooms, as schools face an enrolment increase of one hundred and fifty children, leaving the community searching for places to accommodate them. The situation has led to class sizes expanding to twenty-seven students, well above the legal limit of twenty.

Compounding the issue is a lack of teachers and adequate classroom space. The local educational community is critical of the town hall and the regional education authorities for not accelerating the expansion plans for the CEIP Los Dolses, which have been pending for nearly a decade. As more children flock to this evolving coastal area, especially with a diverse population comprising over fifty nationalities, schools struggle to provide sufficient resources, including adequate English language support.

In secondary schools, the problems are equally prevalent. Reports from educational representatives highlight disarray, incomplete staffing, and a severe scarcity of teaching resources. Classes are overcrowded, with some containing up to forty students, raising concerns about health and educational quality. The ongoing construction works at various institutions have further complicated the situation, with unfinished classrooms delaying the start of the academic year.

In response, the town hall has initiated maintenance and improvement works in local schools, aiming to ensure facilities are ready for the new academic term. However, many within the community feel that these measures are inadequate given the pressing needs of an expanding student population and chronic shortages of personnel. Urgent action is sought to ensure every child receives a quality education in appropriate conditions.