The Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports for the Government of the Canary Islands, Poli Suárez, reported to the Parliament of the Canary Islands on the progress of the expansion plan for the first cycle of Early Childhood Education. Currently, 225 classrooms are operational, providing 3,667 public places. The forecast is to reach 239 classrooms and 3,885 places during the current academic year, which will not only meet but exceed the target of 3,879 places agreed upon with the Ministry of Education.
Suárez highlighted the positive impact of these measures on families, noting that 3,667 Canarian households now have access to a public place in this educational stage. The rollout continues, with new classrooms nearing completion. In the current academic year alone, 1,656 places are expected to be enabled, with 1,438 already operational, demonstrating consistent growth in the public network of classrooms for children aged 0 to 3.
“"Continuing to expand the provision of the first cycle of Early Childhood Education is one of the most important actions of this legislature. We have made a very significant leap in these two years and have corrected the delay that existed in the opening of classrooms."
The minister emphasized that the pace of implementation has significantly increased compared to previous periods. While 593 places were enabled in the 2022/2023 academic year, current growth has doubled and could triple with planned works for this year. This evolution represents a significant shift, moving from 34 classrooms and 593 places in 2022/2023 to a projection of 110 classrooms and 1,656 new places for the 2025/2026 academic year.
In the last two academic years, 170 new classrooms have been opened, surpassing the 69 enabled in the two previous years, reflecting the Ministry's effort to accelerate the implementation of the cycle. At the beginning of the legislature, a reorganization of existing planning was necessary to meet state-level milestones, a task that has allowed for more effective project development.
The expansion of the first cycle of Early Childhood Education covers all eight islands of the archipelago, with distribution based on objective criteria such as the 0-3 population and space availability. Gran Canaria has 89 classrooms and 1,439 places, with a forecast of 92 classrooms and 1,478 places. Tenerife has 79 classrooms and 1,328 places, aiming for 85 classrooms and 1,431 places. Lanzarote has 25 classrooms and 405 places, and Fuerteventura has eleven classrooms and 191 places. El Hierro and La Gomera have completed implementation with seven classrooms and 102 places, and seven classrooms and 92 places, respectively. La Palma has six classrooms and a hundred places, with a forecast of ten classrooms and 158 places, while La Graciosa has one classroom and ten places.
Collaboration with local councils has been crucial in accelerating the creation of places, utilizing municipal facilities and reducing execution times. Spaces have been ceded in municipalities such as Valsequillo and Telde in Gran Canaria; Fasnia in Tenerife; Frontera in El Hierro; Yaiza in Lanzarote; Barlovento in La Palma; and San Sebastián de La Gomera. Additionally, subsidies have been granted for the construction, adaptation, and operation of spaces, including 1.6 million euros for Telde, nearly one million for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and 400,000 euros for Mogán, among other aid to municipalities like Valverde, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Buenavista, Adeje, and Tijarafe.
The Government of the Canary Islands has also quintupled the reach of the Children's Voucher, allocated five million euros this academic year, benefiting nearly 2,000 families. The Ministry is allocating 22 million euros from its own funds to consolidate the growth of Early Childhood Education provision once European funds are exhausted, ensuring the program's continuity in the coming years.
