The president of the Parliamentary Group of the Gomera Socialist Group (ASG), Melodie Mendoza, highlighted this Wednesday the increase in resources for Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports during the appearance of the counselor of the area in the Budget and Finance Commission of the Parliament of the Canary Islands. He recognized the anticipated progress, but demanded that the financing be executed and reached in a balanced manner to all the centers and all the islands.
The Ministry's budget exceeds 2,530 million euros. Melodie Mendoza highlighted measures such as the progressive reduction of ratios – up to 16, 18 and 20 students in Preschool, 22 in Primary and 25 in Secondary –, the expansion of education from 0 to 3 years and the reinforcement of attention to diversity. The Canary Islands have 3,885 public places in the first cycle of children and the project plans to reach 5,309.
He also valued the 5 million euros of the children's bonus and the 11 million to start the progressive free-of-charge of textbooks. In educational inclusion, he highlighted the incorporation of 81 educational psychologists and the investment in support personnel for students with specific needs. “They are important professionals to reinforce guidance and address the emotional well-being needs of students,” he noted.
In Vocational Training, the budget increases by 55% in the area of vocational training and special regime education. The offer serves more than 48,000 students and has some 9,500 collaborating companies. Melodie Mendoza defended that degrees and qualifications continue to adapt to the productive needs of each island, especially in those where the educational offer is more limited. He also valued that 2 million euros be maintained for Dual FP scholarships.
The president of the ASG Parliamentary Group also highlighted the increase of 100,000 euros for sports trips, which brings the aid allocated to non-capital islands to around 4.1 million. He stressed that these supports help compensate for the extra costs of double insularity and allow Gomero clubs and athletes to participate in competitions.
In educational infrastructure, the department foresees close to 37 million euros of own funds, 26% more. Melodie Mendoza announced that ASG will present an amendment to equip the Educational and Sports City of La Gomera, whose project has already been drafted, and another to improve the unitary schools of the Island. She asked to allocate resources that will allow bidding and executing the first action, as well as addressing the pending needs of the rural centers.
He warned that the proposal does not reach the 5% of the GDP established by the Canary Islands Education Law: it stands at 4.12% according to the GDP forecast for 2027. Even so, he acknowledged that the budget is increasing and stated that the challenge now is to comply with the committed actions. “I understand that the objective now must be for these resources to actually reach the centers,” he indicated.
“Let all the money that is in your Ministry be used,” he demanded of the counselor. Melodie Mendoza asked to maintain specific attention to non-capital islands when distributing investments, so that the reduction of ratios, support for students and improvement of facilities respond to the real needs of each educational community.
