The much-anticipated opening of the new Infant and Primary School in Dehesa de
Campoamor has hit a series of setbacks, with the school's opening now postponed
until the start of 2024. Initially due to welcome students in prefabricated classrooms
on 11th September for the new school year, the project has been marred by multiple
changes in building location, leaving residents and parents frustrated.
The decision to establish the new educational centre to meet the soaring demand for
schooling in Orihuela Costa was confirmed on 14 th December, 2022, by the Generalitat.
However, the Orihuela City Council, under both the previous and current
administrations, has struggled to secure an appropriate municipal plot for the
construction. Over the past months, the proposed location has undergone four
revisions, causing upheaval and uncertainty.
In April, the Ministry of Education awarded a contract worth 1.2 million euros to
Alquileres Barceló Sáez SL for the assembly, rental, and disassembly of prefabricated
classrooms. The planned facility was designed as a single-story structure, intended to
accommodate up to 380 infant and junior students. The layout included classrooms, a
dining area, a patio, and shared amenities, with a swift construction timeline of just
two months.
Initial promises suggested that the new school would be ready well in advance of the
11 th September deadline, ensuring a seamless start to the academic year. This
temporary arrangement was intended to fulfil the educational needs of the region
until a more permanent school could be constructed in the following three academic
years.
However, the project's timeline took a hit when the original plot on Calle Nispero,
located within the Los Dolses urbanization, was deemed unsuitable due to its terrain,
despite having previously housed the Colegio Playas de Orihuela for 16 years until
2018.
Following this rejection, the PSOE-Cs government proposed an alternative site in the
parking lot of the La Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre, which boasted convenient
access to services and excellent connectivity. Regrettably, this option was discarded
due to insufficient parking space, falling short of the minimum requirements stipulated
by the General Plan.
Subsequently, a plot across the street on Calle Madreperla emerged as the next
contender. With the only necessary preparation being an asphalting contract, this
location seemed promising. However, the newly elected PP-Vox government shifted
the narrative once again at the onset of their term. The Councillors for Education and
Urban Planning, Vicente Pina and Matías Ruiz, respectively, advocated for reverting to
the initially rejected site on Calle Níspero.
Unfortunately, this selected plot now presents numerous challenges. The surrounding
fence is in a state of disrepair, and considerable work is needed to level the sloped
terrain. Additionally, the contract must encompass the removal of substantial debris,
outdated equipment, and accumulated furnishings from the area, remnants of the
dismantled Playas de Orihuela, which closed its doors five years ago.
Lack of investment
Given the allocated budget of just 1.2 million euros for the construction contract and
the dire condition of the newly chosen site, significant adjustments in funding seem
inevitable if construction is to proceed in the foreseeable future.
Despite the urgent necessity to expand educational facilities to accommodate the
influx of junior and primary students along the coast, the Orihuela City Council has yet
to finalize or approve the crucial project report. This document is essential for securing
funding from the Generalitat to support the new school. Meanwhile, the municipality
remains engaged in drafting the project and negotiating construction contracts, leaving
concerned parents and residents awaiting tangible progress.
With the educational needs of the region in limbo and the opening of the new school
postponed until 2024, local authorities face mounting pressure to resolve the ongoing
challenges and pave the way for a brighter educational future.