The potential privatization of Bell-lloc and Les Alzines schools in Girona could lead to the displacement of over 300 students requiring specific educational support due to socioeconomic factors. This shift may compel these students to transfer to other public or charter schools in the city, as private institutions are not obligated to address school segregation issues. The exact number of students affected remains unclear, as families await the announcement of new proposals set to take effect in the upcoming academic year.
In addition to the local students, nearly one hundred vulnerable students from nearby municipalities may also need to be relocated by their respective local governments. These students are assigned to educational institutions by the Department of Education, ensuring an equitable distribution of at-risk students and preventing the formation of educational ghettos.
The estimate of affected students is derived from calculations made by the city”s charter schools based on their own allocations. “Schools in Girona must reserve between five and six spots for vulnerable children for every 25 students in preschool and primary education, and 12 for each class of 30 in secondary education,” explained Marta Oliva, director of the Vedruna school in Girona and spokesperson for the city”s charter schools.
This situation is exacerbated by the fact that while Girona will have 21 public schools and six charter schools in the next academic year, there will only be seven public secondary schools and four charter institutions. The private sector is expected to strengthen with the merger of Bell-lloc and Les Alzines, along with other private institutions like the Montessori Palau, Montjuïc Girona International School, and Saint George”s School, which, although located in Fornells de la Selva, serves many students from Girona.
Underlying this issue is a long-standing financial underfunding, which is closely linked to a social stigma that has historically labeled charter schools as elitist. Many of these institutions were established to provide education to girls, a group that previously faced barriers to attending school due to societal beliefs that they should remain at home to care for family and engage in domestic work.
On Monday morning, leaders from the city”s charter schools met with Lluc Salellas, the mayor of Girona, to express their concerns about the impact of insufficient funding, which they argue is driving them toward privatization and potential closure. “The Generalitat only covers half of the cost of a charter school place, leaving families to make up the difference through fees. This situation worsens with the arrival of students lacking resources. Although we aim to be welcoming schools, the more students we receive, the greater the financial strain,” Oliva stated.
Additionally, disparities in staffing exist, with 3,800 fewer teachers in the charter school network compared to public schools. “We have fewer teachers for the same number of students,” lamented Oliva, who pointed out that if a line in a charter school closes, teachers lose their jobs, whereas public school teachers can be reassigned to other institutions.
While these school leaders recognize that the issue of underfunding rests with the Generalitat, they have urged the City Council of Girona to support them in planning discussions, where decisions about opening and closing lines are made. “If lines need to close, it is always the charter schools that are impacted first, as if there is a desire to eliminate us,” Oliva emphasized.
She added, “We have been part of the city for over 100 years and rely on family support. If we need to install awnings or fans, the funding comes from the AFA, as if our students do not deserve comfort.” Currently, they are educating 3,870 students in the city.
Oliva warned that if charter schools shut down, “the capacity to accommodate vulnerable students will vanish, making school segregation more pronounced than ever. Families who can afford it will opt for private education, while those who cannot will end up in public schools.” In response to the potential loss of students from Bell-lloc and Les Alzines, Oliva suggested, “The simplest solution is to increase student ratios across all schools.”
The Girona City Council, for its part, asserts that it is working to ensure that no school lines in the city close and is committed to reducing student ratios. Ramon Homs, the director of Bell-lloc, emphasized, “Ideally, a system would allow families to choose the best school for their children based on their educational philosophy, but the current charter system does not guarantee this because it does not provide schools with the necessary funding to execute their educational projects.” While he expressed a desire for many of these students to remain, he acknowledged, “We cannot bear the costs of students without resources, as we are already struggling to make ends meet with the current funding model.”
