Mallorca nurseries warn funding plan risks closures
On Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, publicly subsidised nurseries could be left short of the money they need to stay open, their representatives warn. At a press conference in Palma on Friday, 13 November, the early-years group Feipimeb said a proposed funding plan threatened centres across the islands. Families who depend on the nurseries to combine work and childcare also face uncertainty, the group said.
Why the nurseries fear a shortfall
Under the plan, the Balearic Department of Education and Universities would pay part of staff salaries and social security costs directly. It would also cut the money given to centres for running costs. Feipimeb says that cut is larger than the costs the department would take on.
The centres, known as escoletes concertadas, would still have to pay rent, non-teaching staff, bills, insurance, maintenance and educational supplies. Feipimeb says their current funding has been frozen since September 2023, while running costs have risen. It supports better pay and working conditions for staff, but says the centres need enough money to provide them.
What the group wants next
Feipimeb says talks are being pushed forward after months of waiting, without the main funding questions settled. It wants a full breakdown of the proposal and time to assess what it would mean for the centres.
The group says it remains willing to reach an agreement. It is seeking enough funding to keep centres open, protect jobs and clarify how they will be funded during operating periods and holidays.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com