The families of CEIP Mitjà de Mar, fed up with the Government and the Manacor City Council: "The school is not safe for our children"

ManacorThe Apima of the CEIP Mitjà de Mar in Portocristo, representing the families of the school, has filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education regarding the delay in the repair and replacement of the building's skylight, which was affected by the storms at the end of October last year and has since caused various safety and noise problems for both the students and the educational community.

According to the association, the work should have been resolved almost a year ago. However, on the verge of October, the skylight has still not been installed. They consider the elapsed time to be "absolutely excessive" and it highlights a lack of diligence on the part of the Government.

Furthermore, concern has intensified in view of the forecast that the works will be carried out during the school term and will last approximately two months. The families understand that the repair is necessary, but they question that it is being carried out coinciding with the ordinary activity of the school, with the students and the teaching and non-teaching staff inside the building.

Accessibility risk

One of the main reasons for concern is that, according to the planning communicated to the families, the work could involve the closure of the only door that currently allows access to the center for people with reduced mobility.

For this reason, they demand that throughout the execution of the works "a fully safe and accessible access be guaranteed, in addition to an adequate alternative in case it is necessary to close the current entrance".

The families also warn of the possible risks derived from the presence of workers, materials, machinery, cargo movements, noise and dust while classes are taking place. Thus, the Apima requests the Department that the most risky or impactful actions be carried out outside school hours. It also requests a detailed and binding calendar that includes the effective dates of start and completion of the works.

The unfulfilled promises of the City Council

The criticisms are also directed towards the Manacor City Council, responsible for the building's maintenance, which during this time has been waiting for the Ministry to begin the work.

They explain that the skylight is not the only element of the Mitjà de Mar primary school that needs to be repaired. "We want to formally express our deep discomfort and concern regarding the state of maintenance and preservation in which the educational center currently finds itself," they criticize in another letter addressed to the City Council.

"The school is a space where our sons and daughters spend a very important part of their day and, therefore, we believe it must be maintained in adequate conditions of safety, preservation, healthiness, and dignity," they remind. At the same time, they request that the City Council present a detailed execution plan for the "various unfulfilled promises."

"Many of the commitments acquired have not materialized, or have been executed in a deficient manner and through actions that do not offer a real and lasting solution to the existing problems," points out the Apima.

The association recalls, for example, that before Easter "the rolls of wire necessary to solve one of the center's deficiencies were acquired and, to this day, this wire remains uninstalled."

Reinforce the scaffolding

For its part, the Department of Education has explained that the latest delays in the execution of the skylight work are due to the fact that it is necessary to reinforce some parts of the scaffolding.

This circumstance "has caused a small delay in the start of the definitive replacement works," which they estimate will be finished in two months and have a budget of 32,200 euros.