Special needs students visit environmental education centre

ELEVEN students from the special needs school Secanet D’Educacion of Villajoyosa were invited to the environmental education centre, La Captivador of La Nucia on Thursday October 22 by the town hall to take part in a new initiative organised in collaboration with the school and town hall.

The students, aged between 16 and 21 years old, all with different special educational needs attended the programme, along with centre professionals, for basic qualification in auxiliary activities for nurseries and garden centres.

The purpose of the scheme is to train students to obtain a gardening specialty, and to integrate them with other students participating in the employment workshop. Among the activities carried out on the day were maintaining the environmental education centre’s gardens and conservatory, as well as various gardens in the local area.

The Secanet Villajoyosa centre is a regional school that serves children and young peope with special educational needs from municipalities in the Marina Baixa including Altea, Benidorm, Callosa d’en Sarria, Finestrat, La Nucia, Polop de la Marina, among others. Established by the Ministry of Education in 1982, it employs a number of professionals to provide students with the level of personal attention required, and its infrastructure is adapted to meet the needs of the students.

Pedro Lloret, Councillor at the Captivador and Seu Universitària, said: “Education is a priority in La Nucia. With this programme we are doing our bit for the education of college students who attend the Secanet centre, providing a gardening training scheme, which may lead to employment and enables them to share experiences and relate with other students. La Nucia believes that the best weapon against unemployment is training and social integration.”