The XXX Secondary Education Meeting transformed Vecindario into a dynamic hub of educational activity, bringing together over 2,500 students and nearly 300 teachers from across Gran Canaria. The event, held in various locations throughout the municipality, offered a wide range of proposals including musical performances, theatrical plays, training workshops, dance, sports activities, and a chess tournament.
A total of 37 secondary schools from the island participated in this initiative, which received support from the Department of Education and the Santa Lucía de Tirajana City Council. The management teams, especially the vice-principals, along with student collaboration, were the key drivers of this well-established event.
From early morning, the activity was constant. At La Karpa, schools such as IES Juan Pulido Castro, IES Franchy Roca, IES Alonso Quesada, and IES José Arencibia Gil, with their school radio projects, broadcast a special live program. Simultaneously, students from IES Schamann entertained attendees with musical performances, including the Venezuelan joropo A unos ojos and the song Halo.
The workshop offerings were equally diverse. IES La Isleta demonstrated how to extract DNA from bananas in its science space, while IES El Tablero developed activities focused on mathematics and visual narrative. These and other initiatives completed a dozen proposals distributed across the various venues.
“"For us, education is not just about being at a desk acquiring knowledge; it is also what we see here today: coexistence, respect for diversity, learning values, and participation in cultural and sports activities."
During the inauguration, the mayor of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Francisco García, highlighted the educational value of the meeting beyond the classroom. For his part, the Councilor for Education, Mario Bordón, emphasized the collective effort that makes this event possible, congratulating all those involved for their commitment.
“"Since 1994, the secondary school management teams of Gran Canaria have promoted this meeting to give visibility to many activities — such as chess, theater, music, or workshops — that often do not have a place in the classroom and are now shared in a common space."
From the organization, Aixa Lorenzo Acosta, vice-principal of IES José Zerpa, recalled the initiative's trajectory, which since 1994 has sought to give visibility to extracurricular activities. Good weather accompanied the day, facilitating participation in the various municipal spaces. Also present at the inaugural event were the Councilor for Sports, Julio Ojeda, and representatives from the Department of Education.
