In Rivas-Vaciamadrid, where the number of young families and children continues to grow, access to education is once again in the spotlight. The halt in construction at the public school CEIP Hispanidad has left no classrooms available for new students. Frustrated by constant delays and uncertainty, parents decided to stage an overnight protest inside the school building to draw attention to the issue and prompt a response from authorities.
According to El Pais, CEIP Hispanidad faced challenges from the start: the first students had to use other classrooms while the building was under construction. Each year, the number of children increased and expansion projects lagged behind schedule. Now the school has nine classrooms and one auxiliary room, all of which are occupied, leaving no space for the 31 new students. The construction company responsible for the building halted work without explanation and removed its equipment.
Growing pressure
Rivas-Vaciamadrid is considered one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the region, with a birth rate higher than the Madrid average. Parents are forced to enroll their children at CEIP Hispanidad, despite the lack of completed facilities, because there are not enough public schools in the area. For two years, children attended classes in the neighboring CEIP Dulce Chacón building to avoid temporary modular classrooms without amenities. However, even after moving to the new building, conditions remain far from ideal: there are no laboratories, no gym, no library, and furniture and equipment are minimal.
Parents note that due to the classroom shortage, administrative rooms must be used for lessons. If the situation does not improve, the school administration is considering converting the teachers’ lounge or other service rooms into classrooms. This raises concerns about the quality of education and the safety of the children.
Authorities respond
The Madrid Ministry of Education has admitted its dissatisfaction with the contractor’s work and announced ongoing negotiations to find a solution. Options include continuing construction with the current company or seeking a new contractor. However, the timeline for completion remains uncertain, and parents do not believe in quick changes. They have already faced disagreements with the administration, including over the name of the school, and are now determined to push for improvements.
The parents’ demonstration is scheduled for the night of April 10 to 11. Families will spend the night at the school with their children to highlight the seriousness of the situation. For the kids, it will be an unusual event — sleeping in sleeping bags, watching a movie, and having breakfast together. But the main goal is to draw attention to education issues in the municipality and push for the completion of construction.
Impact on the city
According to El Pais, the shortage of school places is already affecting the development of Rivas-Vaciamadrid: some families are forced to send their children to schools in other towns, and new housing construction is slowing due to a lack of infrastructure. Parent association representatives believe the municipality suffers from insufficient attention from regional authorities, especially when it comes to education.
The situation at CEIP Hispanidad is not unique. Other districts in Madrid also have schools where construction has dragged on for years, and students learn in conditions far from modern standards. Parents and community organizations regularly hold demonstrations and file appeals, demanding faster progress and proper conditions for education. In recent years, similar protests have taken place in Alcorcón and San Sebastián de los Reyes, where delays in opening new school buildings have also been recorded.
