The Emilio Pérez Piñero High School is being forced to choose between paying its electricity bills or buy gasoil for heating the school premises, according to the Director.
The Director, Alonso Salinas, has underlined the “grave economic situation” of the school which is owed some 80,000 euros by the Department of Education: 40% for 2011 and 25% for 2012. The school has not received any funds for the current year.
According to the Director the effects of this debt are begining to take effect making it is imposible to carry out the minimum level of maintenance and repairs. “The situation has reached the point where we must choose between buying gasoil for the heating or paying the electricity bill.”
He adds that the “worst decision” in the Government´s education reforms is not to cover the first 15 days of teacher absence which has led to pupils losing many class hours.
Alonso Salinas says he supports the students’ protest but “prefers a form of protest which means the students do not miss school.”
Many students at the school have joined the three day strike called by the National Union of Students in protest against the cuts and in defence of public education.
