Parents are worried their kids won’t get into school

Costa del Sol

MARBELLA - PARENTS in Marbella are worried that, as already happened in 2009, there will not be enough places for all the children in local schools this year, especially because some who were at public schools will now be moved to state schools because of the economic crisis. Until March 31, parents in Andalucia will be doing their best to get their children into the school they desire.

MARBELLA - PARENTS in Marbella are worried that, as already happened in 2009, there will not be enough places for all the children in local schools this year, especially because some who were at public schools will now be moved to state schools because of the economic crisis. Until March 31, parents in Andalucia will be doing their best to get their children into the school they desire.

The registration period for children between zero and three years will begin in April. All parents who have children going to school for the first time, or changing schools, at Primary (three to six years), Secondary, ‘Bachillerato’, Initial Professional Qualification Programmes, Languages and Arts, and permanent schooling up to the age of 18, should start the request now.

The forms can be requested at the school or on the Education Council website, where all the information about the schools is available.

All children will be given a place at the school they request unless there is a higher demand than the number of places offered, which will probably be the case in Marbella. If that happens, a points system will be used, which this year has some changes, such as: 13 points are awarded for each sibling at the same school (the place will be granted automatically if siblings are in the same year), three points if one of the parents works at the school, 10 points if the home or work of the parents is within the school’s area, etc.

For more information, visit the Junta de Andalucia website http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/educacion/nav/Escolarizacion/contenido.jsp?pag=/Contenidos/Escolarizacion/2010/inicio or phone 900 848 000.

The results will be published at the schools before April 12, with 10 days to appeal. The final lists will be published before May 7, and the registration period will begin.

Parents in Marbella say the number of schools in the city remains that same and there will be the same or more demand as last year, when 100 children were left without a place in a local school. They have asked the authorities for more schools or enlargement of the existing centres but so far, nothing has been done.