Avances del convenio para mejorar infraestructuras educativas en La Gomera.
The Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports Counselor of the Government of the Canary Islands, Poli Suárez, and the President of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, held a meeting on Wednesday with mayors and representatives from the six municipalities of the island to analyze some of the advancements in educational infrastructure covered in the agreement signed between both administrations for a total of one million euros (500,000 in 2024 and another 500,000 euros in 2025).
Among the main demands discussed during this meeting, which were agreed upon by the different municipalities, the creation of shaded areas in the island’s schools stands out. Regarding this issue, Counselor Poli Suárez stated that the planned actions in the agreement between the Ministry and the Cabildo "allow us to solve one of the most significant problems we face not only in La Gomera but in the entire archipelago."
Another topic addressed during the meeting was the promotion of Vocational Training in the islands, which will have a special impact in La Gomera with the launch of its first Integrated Vocational Training Center in the upcoming school year. "This will provide young people in La Gomera with an educational offer tailored to the real needs of the island and the profiles demanded by the labor market," defended Suárez.
The regional Education Counselor also announced, among other measures, the implementation of the first cycle of Early Childhood Education (0 to 3 years) in San Sebastián de La Gomera starting in the 2025/2026 school year. The Ministry will take over the management of the existing municipal nursery, which will become an affiliated nursery school to the nearby CEIP Ruiz de Padrón.
As a result, the Canary Islands will offer 78 new public and free spots for the first cycle of Early Childhood Education – currently, there are 36 spots available – within the program funded through MRR Next Generation funds. Therefore, thanks to this agreement, there will be a significant increase in the number of public spots available for this age group in the capital of La Gomera. Additionally, there will no longer be a need to carry out the planned construction works at CEIP Ruiz de Padrón for this purpose, avoiding unnecessary expenses and allowing the school to use the space for other purposes.
On the other hand, the President of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, emphasized the educational infrastructure and the refurbishment of the centers. He mentioned that since last year, work has been done on a document compiling the actions proposed by schools and institutes, which will start materializing with specific measures for creating shaded areas and other substantial improvements.
Curbelo celebrated that "the actions are the result of a coordinated effort to have a framework document endowed with one million euros of funding." He affirmed that "I believe we are on the right path. Establishing cooperation guidelines with the City Councils, the Cabildo, and the Government will yield results in the coming months."
The island’s President also linked the improvement of infrastructure with the opportunity to significantly enhance the Vocational Training offer on the island, aiming to adapt it to the reality of the labor market and student demand. For these reasons, he stressed the importance of the island’s Vocational Training map in "clearly hitting the mark regarding the preparation of new generations and employment opportunities in La Gomera."
Meeting with the Island Education Counselors
Following the meeting with the Cabildo and mayors, Poli Suárez and Casimiro Curbelo held a second meeting with the Island Education Counselors to address various aspects related to Vocational Training on each of the islands. This meeting delved into the need to expand the training offer and adapt the centers to the new demands of the labor market, with the aim of strengthening the job placement opportunities for the young people of the archipelago.
