Mallorca schools: PSIB pledges air-conditioned classes
Air-conditioned classrooms, trees in every school playground and help with books and supplies: the PSIB says it will deliver all three across the Balearics. Rosario Sánchez, the party’s deputy general secretary and candidate for president of the Balearic Government, set out the pledges in Palma, Mallorca, on Friday. She also promised permanent talks with the education community to improve public education.
Sánchez said pupils, families and teachers had started the new school year with enthusiasm, but accused the Balearic Government of failing to support them over climate change and rising school-material costs. She said children were facing unbearable heat and claimed the government was putting private education ahead of public schools.
She also attacked the government’s announced €8 billion budget, claiming it spends more on segregation and Vox demands than on cooling classrooms.
Cruise surcharge plan for school cooling
PSIB’s Palma mayoral candidate, Iago Negueruela, said more tourism money should go into education. He pointed to his party’s proposal for a €4 supplement for cruise passengers, which he said would bring Palma an extra €8 million.
Negueruela said €40 million would be available over four years to tackle climate change in schools and fit cooling systems in education centres. He accused Palma mayor Jaime Martínez of failing to act, and said school playgrounds needed trees rather than major building projects.
Deal sought for early-years educators
Amanda Fernández, PSIB candidate to lead the Council of Mallorca, backed educators working with children aged 0 to 3. She promised an agreement for the sector, a major infrastructure plan and smaller class groups.
Fernández said the educators had begun the school year in yellow T-shirts, repeating the same demands they made in June. She accused the government of ignoring calls for a Balearic-wide collective agreement and a review of minimum standards.
She also said a small pay rise had been agreed only for educators at state-funded private schools, leaving municipal schools out. As an example of underinvestment, she pointed to IES Felanitx, Mallorca, where the school year began with the gym shut for building work and emergency stairs unfinished.
Topics: Education · Jobs & labour · Tourism · Politics · Felanitx · Palma
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com