Xàbia Reviews School Needs and Infrastructure Plans at Municipal Education Council

Xàbia Council held a new session of the Municipal Education Council this week, bringing together school leadership teams, parent association representatives (AMPAs), unions and teaching staff to review the current situation in the municipality’s public nursery and primary schools and discuss the main needs of the local education community.

During the meeting, the councillor responsible for Education, Mavi Pérez (CpJ), gave council members a detailed update on the situation at each school and the measures the town hall is promoting to improve educational conditions in the municipality.

Regarding the reorganization of school units recently announced by the regional Department of Education, the councillor delivered a reassuring message, explaining that this does not strictly mean “classroom closures,” but rather a reorganization of teaching units based on changes in student numbers and real enrollment needs.

In this regard, Pérez explained that during the 2025–2026 school year some schools temporarily created additional units to accommodate a short-term increase in student numbers. However, as students progress through the education cycle and move between stages, particularly the transition from sixth grade in primary school to secondary education, these additional units may no longer be required. The final decision on this reorganization rests exclusively with the competent authority within the Department of Education.

One example of this redistribution can be seen at CEIP Port de Xàbia, which has one class per grade except in fifth and sixth. At the end of the school year, sixth-grade students will move on to secondary school, while fifth-grade students will maintain their two existing classes. In early childhood education, Pérez noted that declining birth rates are also affecting educational planning. As a result, some classrooms created in previous years will not need to remain open next year, as is the case at CEIP Graüll. At CEIP Trenc d’Alba, the two sixth-grade classes originated when the group was split in third grade; now that they have reached sixth grade, one of the two classes will be phased out next year as it is no longer necessary.

Pérez also outlined the actions and projects currently underway at the municipality’s schools, detailing the steps the town hall is taking to improve facilities.

At CEIP Arenal, the council has intervened to the limit of its authority in response to the deteriorating state of the roof of the early childhood building, which have been suffering from leaks and water infiltration. The town hall has formally notified the Territorial Directorate for Educational Infrastructure of the urgent need for repairs. At the same time, the municipal government has held several meetings with the school’s leadership team and the parent association to keep them informed of the steps being taken.

Meanwhile, the project to convert the former caretaker’s residence into a classroom for two-year-olds has been awarded to the only company that submitted a bid during the tender process. The council expects work to begin shortly, which will expand the spaces dedicated to two-year-old education.

Regarding CEIP Trenc d’Alba, the councillor announced that the next step will be to relaunch the tender for the school’s expansion works with updated pricing. The company originally awarded the contract withdrew after rejecting the revised price update due to the time that had passed since the project was drafted, so the town hall is now working to restart the administrative procedure as soon as possible.

At CEIP Graüll, the Territorial Directorate for Educational Infrastructure is currently drafting an accessibility project for the school, which will improve mobility and access conditions within the facilities.

At CEIP Mediterrània, the Department of Education recently launched a tender to install lifts in several schools across the Comunidad Valenciana. However, the five lots in the process received no bids, four of which corresponded to schools in the city of Elche. Xàbia Council remains in contact with the regional administration to learn what steps will be taken next so that the project can move forward. Meanwhile, the accessibility project for the school’s toilets and emergency staircase is awaiting a legal report from the Department.

One of the issues that attracted the most attention during the meeting was the future CEIP No. 6 in Xàbia, a project long demanded by the local education community. According to Pérez, after numerous negotiations and meetings with the Department of Education, the town hall has succeeded in securing the regional administration’s agreement to promote a fast-track solution to create the new school using temporary facilities, while the transfer of powers to the town hall is processed for drafting the final project and carrying out the construction works.

In recent weeks, Pérez and municipal technical staff have held meetings with officials from the Territorial Directorate to discuss the future project and the needs of the new school, marking an important step toward launching the new centre.

The education councillor highlighted the town hall’s ongoing efforts to respond to the needs of the educational community. “From the very beginning we have been working with determination to improve Xàbia’s educational infrastructure and to support each school with its specific needs. We know that education is a priority, and that is why we continue to press all administrations to ensure these projects move forward,” she said.

Pérez also emphasized that this commitment is shared by the entire municipal government. “Both the mayor, Rosa Cardona, and the rest of the municipal team are fully committed to finding solutions and ensuring that Xàbia’s children can study in the best possible conditions,” she added.

Finally, the councillor noted her personal connection to the education sector, which strengthens her commitment to the role. “As a teacher, I know first-hand the reality of schools and the needs of the educational community. That is why we will continue working with responsibility and dialogue to provide our students with a dignified, high-quality education,” she concluded.