Anti-tax evasion measures, medical co-payments and more children in the classroom

King Juan Carlos's accident made the really big news of the week move over (Prospero's well-exercised cynicism wonders about smoke screens). Three significant things will be approved by tomorrow's weekly Cabinet Meeting, or already were at last week's: co-payment for medicines by pensioners -free medication until now- depending on their income, and the long-term unemployed; anti-tax evasion measures against under-the-counter cash payments to the self-employed; more children in the classroom. We will be looking at each of these, and more, measures being taken over the next few weeks. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE FUTURE but you can make a donation NOW, too! Please click here for more information on how to help us continue.

"We won't be celebrating Father's or Mother's Day at school"

JIMENA/San Martín del Tesorillo (Source: TioJimeno) This note was handed to parents by their children at the school in Tesorillo. It reads as follows: "We wish to inform you that under the new instruction regulations, and because the concept of family is changing, we will not be celebrating Father's or Mother's Day, as we will be carrying out activities related to The Family Day, on May 15. Signed by the pre-school and 1st and 2nd grade teachers. " The father who sent it in to TioJimeno was unable to explain things to his child.

School's out until Thursday!

In the teachers' union's inimitable fashion, they have managed once more to get away with a very long puente (bridge: long weekend). Because Tuesday happens to be Día de Andalucía, and Monday, by sheer coincidence no doubt, is officially Education Community Day (Día de la Comunidad Educativa), they are also taking Leap Day, Wednesday February 29, off as well. Five consecutive days off without a thought for anyone else but themselves. No thought for parents, that's certain: if Mom or Dad or both are lucky enough to be working, how can they take time off to take care of the kids in the present unemployment climate? If they're not working, a day or three with either or both parents would probably do the children quite a lot of good ... but that can be a big if. (Tell us what you think: click on 'comments' below)

A little history and a big achievement: the Jimena Music School

Author in full swing

(By David Higginbottom) Growing out of the amazing spectacle and success of the Jimena International Music Festival, from 2001 to 2008, the Jimena Music School started in autumn 2003, with only two teachers, covering general musicianship, violin, recorder and piano. Despite the recession and severe cutbacks, the school continues to flourish, now with four teaching staff and is probably the cheapest non-funded instrumental learning scheme in Europe.  The cost of lessons is more or less one quarter of what it would cost elsewhere and represents great value for money. Made up of a lovely mix of nationalities, although mainly Spanish, the school is based in the Casa de la Cultura in Jimena and meets for lessons and practices on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays after school finishes, usually from 3.45 onwards.

Over the period from 2007 to the present, the school has developed beyond anybody's expectations and it now has about 40 students learning a range of instruments – piano, violin, viola, cello and recorder.  This coming year,>>>

PP says school problems are an example of Junta cutbacks

JIMENA (Source: EuropaSur) The Partido Popular (PP) parliamentary representative for Cádiz, Carmen Pedemonte, stated yesterday that the problems at the Reina de los Ángeles primary school in Jimena is an example of the policy of cutbacks by the provincial Education Council. She met with parents involved in the effort to split a class of 28 first grade children, telling that it was not too much to ask as "previously (in other years) there has been that possibility for 6 year olds. Last year, she reminded them, there were two classes of 6 year olds and two regular teachers and one support teacher for both. This year one of the regulars and the support teachers have not been placed at the school. Worse, she added, is that the decision had been made at the Education Council in June, well before the September closure of the registry (matriculación), giving an incorrect total of students in each class. In her communiqué, Pedemonte said that the original classroom were too small to hold 28 students adequately and the library had to be relocated in order to make room for that many children. Pedemonte also promised to take the matter to the provincial parliament and try to find a solution.

Kids go back to school today, parents protest outside

Parents protesting this mornin

JIMENA Having caught the attention of local and regional media, the protest at N. S. de los Ángeles primary school, all children went back to class today. Parents, principally those whose kids are affected by the fact of two 'missing' teachers remained at the gates this morning in protest together with others who support their cause. There is also a petition going around the village, awaiting signatures, that will be presented to the Ombudsman for Andalucía, José Chamizo. The education authorities have warned the parents who kept their children away from their legally obligatory classes that they could be prosecuted. The spokesperson for the protesting group, Lola Pino, said this morning that the response from the education authorities had brought their "spirits down". The group is well aware that there are another seven schools in the same situation, but Pino insists that "each case, each school is different."

Primary school year begins with protests from parents

JIMENA A new school year and out pour protests about too many students to a class and the removal of a Special Needs support teacher ... Nothing new, then. Year after year it seems to be the same problem, and we haven't heard from the Instituto yet. In any case, the A.M.P.A. (Asociación de Madres y Padres de Alumnos, i.e. parents association) Gamero (that's its name) is protesting about the need to split a First Grade class to obtain the legal limit of 25, instead of the present 28, and the lack of a Special Needs support teacher. The association has given the school authorities until tomorrow, Friday, at 2pm to come up with a solution. If none is forthcoming, there will be a meeting at 6 to discuss further protest measures. The parents involved ask the rest of parents for their support.

All school start dates, including holidays and lots of other information

The beginning of the school year 2011/2012 is almost upon us. It is, in fact, on the same dates for all state schools within the Junta's Consejería de Educación. Thus, teachers are due back at work on September 1, to prepare for the students, who will be starting classes according to the programme below. The Confederation of Parent/Teachers association says that the average cost of school materials for this year is around the €600 mark, depending on the age and grade of the student: the older the child, the more expensive it gets (but we knew that, didn't we?). In Andalucia, school books at the primary stage are free and/or recycled. If your child does not return the book at the end of the year, you will be charged for it. Starting dates are as follows:>>>

Everything you ever wanted to know about your child's education but couldn't understand the language

ANDALUCIA There are always a lot of questions about local education facilities at this time of year. We try to bring you up to date information but that is not always possible, if nothing else because it is all too often not available on a website (fortunately, our office is close to a school, so we are sometimes seen rushing across the street to get information...). One of the most frequently asked questions is How & when do I register my child for school? The answer is on a pamphlet (in English, French and Arabic) that gives you a general overview. In any case, (FIND OUT MORE ON CampoPulse!)

Graduation ceremony at IES Azahar

Students of 4º ESO (Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria) at IES Azahar, in San Martín del Tesorillo yesterday celebrated their graduation in a ceremony attended by Mayor Pascual Collado and Councillor for Education Jesús Rodríguez. Kids from Tesorillo and nearby Secadero have attended their obligatory secondary school there; some will come to IES Hozgarganta in Jimena next year to continue studying for their Bachillerato, while others will go on to attend other educational facilities.

Alcohol, drugs and 'precocious sex', a dangerous 'cocktail' among minors

A recent report by the University of Cádiz's Department of Labour Relations says that "the combination of alcohol, drugs and 'precocious sex' in adolescence, a critical period of development, is a vicious circle." Aggressive behaviour, alcohol, drugs and early sexual activity is a 'cocktail' clearly interrelated, correlated. One thing leads to another, one habit leads to another, and it all leads to a pattern among minors that causes a commonality of "risky behaviour," adds the report, which was carried out among 2000 high school students in Andalucía. It begins by analysing violence and its relationship with drug and alcohol abuse, and ends with sex, correlating over 200 variables. The same people who have early sex, it concludes, are the same as those who drink, take drugs,>

Free laptops for Campo students and teachers ... but when?

The Junta de Andalucía's announced on September 28 (see EuropaSur link here) that some six thousand students of the Campo de Gibraltar would receive laptops during this school year thanks to a programme called Escuela TIC 2.0. The announcement said that programme, co-financed by the central government, would be set up more rapidly in Andalucía than elsewhere in the country. The computers would supposedly go to students of 5º and 6º primary grade and to some 230 teachers in the Campo area.>