The academic year in Madrid began with serious difficulties for many students and teachers. Numerous schools are undergoing prolonged renovations, cracks have been found in the walls, and in some buildings hazardous asbestos still hasn’t been removed. Temporary modular classrooms, initially intended as a short-term solution, have become the new norm for many students.
This situation affects not just isolated districts, but almost the entire region. In 35 municipalities and areas of the capital, there are 77 schools and lyceums where repair work remains unfinished. In some cases, children study amid scaffolding; in others, they are forced to attend classes in buildings showing clear signs of disrepair. Certain areas—such as Moncloa-Aravaca, Barajas, Centro, and Vallecas—are especially hard-hit.
The problems aren’t limited to the city. In the north, for example in Colmenar Viejo, asbestos still has not been removed from schools, and deep cracks are visible in classrooms. In the south—in cities like Getafe, Fuenlabrada, Móstoles, and Leganés—there are reports of leaks, unfinished buildings, and constant delays in completion deadlines. In some schools, children are forced to study in conditions where parts of the grounds or gyms are closed due to the risk of collapse.
The eastern and western districts of Madrid have also faced issues. In Alcalá de Henares and Coslada, new schools are opening without furniture or internet access, while expansion projects are delayed for years. In the western part of the region, such as Cercedilla and Collado Villalba, some institutions operate under constant restrictions due to unfinished construction.
Parents and unions insist that the state of school infrastructure is not accidental, but the result of years of underfunding and the absence of a clear modernization plan. They are demanding urgent investment, a transparent work schedule, and the mandatory removal of asbestos from all educational facilities. Regional authorities admit that some inspections have revealed buildings in unsatisfactory condition, but maintain that all work is proceeding as planned and there is no threat to safety. Still, according to parents, every new academic year begins with the same problems: construction noise, closed schoolyards, and promises that go unfulfilled.
Civic organizations, such as the Federación de Asociaciones de Padres Francisco Giner de los Ríos, have been campaigning for improvements for years. They organize rallies, raise the issues in parliament, and demand concrete action from the regional government. Although some proposals have been approved, real change has yet to be seen. As a result, thousands of children and teachers are forced to study and work under far-from-normal conditions.
