Loulé City Council expressed its dissatisfaction with the planned closing for the 2014-15 school year of the Areeiro (S. Clemente), Cortelha (Salir), Escanxinas (Almancil) and Querença schools, through the approval of a council decision where it expresses the commitment to the “continuity of operation”.
According to the document unanimously voted on by the councilors, "the closure of such schools will result in a clear harm to local interests and to the parents and guardians of the students".
For municipal officials, this decision by the central government only serves “economic reasons, for blind cuts in education” and is not based on any pedagogical basis.
On the other hand, the municipal executive is of the opinion that this measure will lead to a concentration of students in spaces that, at the moment, are already overcrowded, leading “to the degradation of the quality of the learning environment and of education itself” in the Municipality.
This is because the vast majority of students will be integrated in the School Center of Vale de Rãs and EB1 nº2 in Almancil, educational establishments that, in the current school year, already house close to 300 students.
But, for those responsible for the Chamber, in addition to the students, the faculty and staff of these school centers will also be harmed by this measure, which “aims to close yet another fundamental public service for citizens, in particular for students who live in marked areas. by the interior and far from urban centers”.
Another of the points focused on the proposal presented in a council session that, according to municipal officials, will bring losses to the Municipality, concerns the necessary change in the school transport program for the next school year, which had already been approved, and the significant increase in costs with them, as it will be necessary to transport students on longer routes.
According to this document, the directors of the groups of schools that these four schools are part of – Padre João Coelho Cabanita Grouping of Schools and Almancil Grouping of Schools – are in favor of the continuity of those teaching establishments.
Parents' and guardians' associations also clearly express a favorable opinion on the continued operation of schools.
In addition to these four schools, the closing of the current Escola da Fonte Santa is also planned. But, in this case, the new School Center in this location will start operating in the next school year.
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