The island corporation has issued an official statement expressing its strong rejection of the potential closure of the Arts Baccalaureate at the IES San Sebastián de La Gomera. This stance follows a complaint by the STEC-IC union, which warned of the Canary Islands Government's Department of Education's intention to eliminate this program due to alleged insufficient enrollment.
The Council has sent a clear message to the Department, warning that "a step backward in a matter that represents opportunity, progress, and social cohesion for La Gomera" cannot be taken. The institution reminds that the island's over 2,200 students have the same rights as those in any other part of the archipelago, and maintaining these post-compulsory studies is crucial to "avoid displacement, uprooting, and inequalities among students".
The council highlights its commitment to education, annually allocating over three million euros to scholarships and family aid, in addition to an investment of 1.5 million euros for improving island educational infrastructure.
A step backward in a matter that represents opportunity, progress, and social cohesion for La Gomera cannot be taken.
Meanwhile, the STEC-IC union criticizes the decision being based on "purely economic criteria" and points out that the enrollment process has not yet closed. They argue that the disappearance of the island's sole arts offering "would place local young creators in a vulnerable position," forcing them to "leave their family environment and move to the island of Tenerife" to pursue their studies.
Union organizations conclude that maintaining the Arts Baccalaureate does not incur additional costs for the autonomous community's coffers, as the infrastructure and teaching staff are already integrated into the public network of the Canary Islands.
