Drive to improve schools and education centres in the Migjorn

THE Balearic ministry for Education and Culture is to invest 10 million euros in upgrading education facilities in some southeast municipalities of Majorca which fall within the so-called Migjorn district. Minister Barbara Galmes paid a visit to the high school in Colonia de Sant Jordi yesterday where 1'107'502 euros is to be invested in improvements. A new college is to be built in Llucmajor, and a new music school in Felanitx. Galmes said that the investment shows that the present Balearic government is keen that outlying regions of the Islands don't fall behind in being able to take advantage of new teaching equipment and upgraded education installations. The works on enlarging the facilities in Colonia de Sant Jordi will start this summer and will provide a further 75 places at the school. Because of the influx of immigrants from both within and outside of the European Community in recent years, the regional government education system has had to undergo prompt changes to cope with the demands placed on it, not just in numerical terms but also in linguistic material. Many children from immigrant families begin their school curriculum without being able to speak Castillian Spanish or Catalan. The regional authorities have approached Madrid to ask for funding to help to ensure all children are given adequate attention.