On Thursday morning, a session of the Control Plenary took place at the Assembly Palace in Melilla, where various opposition groups raised questions regarding the management of public programs and social policies by the local government. The initial query was presented by the Coalition for Melilla (CpM), represented by Deputy Cecilia Gonzalez, focusing on the school uniform program designed to assist students from socioeconomically disadvantaged families. This initiative was approved by the Government Council and is part of the city”s current strategic plan.
During her remarks, Gonzalez pointed out that the program was officially approved on September 19, following its inclusion in the strategic plan for social and educational policies published on March 7. However, she emphasized that her group had previously expressed concerns during the plenary session on September 29, when they inquired about the execution timelines and criteria for the program.
According to Gonzalez, the Education Minister claimed at that time that the procedure was “completely transparent, appropriate, and legal.” Nevertheless, two weeks later, on October 14, the Government Council requested legal reports regarding the program”s legality, which, according to CpM, caused confusion among educational communities and families. “Such actions lead to questioning the effectiveness of public policies,” stated Gonzalez, lamenting that a program with such a positive social goal was mired in doubt and delays.
Gonzalez argued that public policies must promote equal opportunities in education, especially in Melilla, which has high rates of socioeconomic vulnerability. She asserted that providing free access to uniforms and school supplies represents “a concrete action that fosters real equality.” However, she stressed that these measures need to be accompanied by “flawless processing, transparent criteria, and timely execution,” warning that procedural errors could undermine effectiveness, cause delays, and “lead to a loss of institutional credibility.”
CpM also expressed dissatisfaction with the management of the program by individual schools, arguing that it imposes “an administrative burden” on school leadership and secretarial staff already overwhelmed with daily tasks. “A school can ask a family for their tax return, but it cannot ascertain how many people live in that household or how many returns exist. This is neither appropriate nor effective,” the deputy asserted.
Additionally, she criticized the lack of differentiated criteria based on school size, which could result in disparities in resource allocation. “A school with 300 students can cover full uniforms, while one with 750 may barely manage for a single garment,” she illustrated.
Gonzalez pointed out that delays in the program”s implementation have reduced its effectiveness, forcing families to purchase uniforms independently at the start of the school year to ensure their children are properly dressed for class. In conclusion, CpM requested that future iterations of the program include a single public call for all of Melilla, managed directly by the Education Department, with sufficient timelines to ensure proper planning before the school year begins.
In response, the Education, Youth, and Sports Minister, Miguel Ángel Fernández Bonnemaison, acknowledged the constructive tone of the interpellation but noted that many suggestions could not be implemented in this initial round, “precisely because it is the first.” He remarked that it was “striking” that CpM now proposes such a model for assistance when it was part of the previous government and did not promote similar measures. He also criticized the opposition group for casting “doubts in the media” about the program”s legality, rather than addressing these concerns in the appropriate commission or during the plenary.
Fernández Bonnemaison provided a detailed explanation of the procedure, reminding attendees that the city has been facilitating free access to education through programs that provide books and supplies for vulnerable students for years. This year, the school supplies program had a budget allocation of 254,983 euros, which was approved on September 12 and published in the Official Bulletin of Melilla on the 23rd. A total of 18 schools participated in this call, although one—Liceo Sefardi—was excluded for not being publicly owned.
A legal report confirmed the program”s legality. The minister explained that on September 27, a citizen raised questions regarding the program”s legality, prompting the Government Council to seek advice from the city”s legal services. The legal opinion, issued on October 14, fully supported the legality of both programs and dismissed any alleged irregularities. “The programs were never halted,” the minister clarified, adding that schools had already begun submitting the necessary data to process the assistance.
Fernández Bonnemaison highlighted that last year, 1,549 students in early childhood and primary education benefited from a budget of 229,000 euros, and for the current academic year, this funding has increased by an additional 22,700 euros. “The ones harmed by the baseless allegations and doubts are the students and their most needy families,” warned the minister.
He also introduced the ECODAR uniform program, which follows the same structure as the school supplies initiative and has a budget of 270,000 euros. This plan was approved by the Government Council on September 19 and published in the Official Bulletin of Melilla on the 20th. Fourteen educational centers have applied to participate in the program, including public and private institutions, as well as Liceo Sefardi. He insisted that the verification and oversight procedures met all legal requirements.
Finally, Fernández Bonnemaison acknowledged that school leadership teams had expressed concerns regarding the workload, and the department would consider directly managing the procurement of supplies in future editions to ease the administrative burden on schools and restore confidence in the program. “We appreciate the suggestions and proposals, as there are many interesting ideas. But I want to emphasize that this program is legal, transparent, and beneficial for hundreds of families in Melilla,” concluded the minister.
