Mallorca school costs hit €673: MÉS seeks free books
Families in Mallorca and across the Balearic Islands face a €673 bill per pupil as the new school year approaches, according to the latest estimates. MÉS per Mallorca has called for free textbooks and school supplies in public education. Maria Ramon, the party’s representative in the Balearic Parliament, set out the proposal in Palma on Thursday, 3 September.
The party wants a system that lends out and reuses materials, with public funds covering the cost. It says the scheme should reach all pupils in public education, with a firm timetable for its introduction and enough money to run it.
MÉS also wants an annual measure of what schooling really costs families in the Balearic Islands. It would track spending on books, school and digital materials, meals, transport and educational activities.
Questions over existing support
Last school year, 296 centres took part in the regional books and teaching-materials programme. It had a budget of €3.15 million, which families could top up with their own contributions.
MÉS has asked the Balearic Government to publish how much of the real cost the scheme meets, how many pupils receive all their materials and how many centres are outside it. The party also wants meal support updated to reflect living costs, with help extended to transport and extra activities.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com