The provincial opening ceremony for the 2026/2027 Secondary school year in the province of Córdoba took place this Tuesday at the IES Marqués de Comares in Lucena, a center also celebrating its 75th anniversary. The event was attended by authorities including the delegate of the Junta de Andalucía Government in Córdoba, Adolfo Molina; the provincial delegate for Education, Diego Copé; the mayor of Lucena, Aurelio Fernández; and the municipal delegate for Education, Miriam Ortiz, along with the institute's management and representatives of the educational community.
In Lucena, a total of 4,057 students are beginning this academic year in ESO, Bachillerato, and Vocational Training. Of these, 929 are enrolled in vocational courses, figures that underscore the importance of Lucena's institutes in youth education and the need to align educational offerings with student expectations and the city's economic and business reality.
Aurelio Fernández, the mayor of Lucena, highlighted the trajectory of the IES Marqués de Comares as a reference educational center and the significance of Lucena once again hosting the official provincial school year opening. He emphasized the necessity of expanding Vocational Training options, particularly in sectors with strong presence and projection in Lucena, to facilitate young people's entry into the job market. In recent years, Lucena's institutes have introduced six new vocational courses across IES Sierra de Aras, Marqués de Comares, and Juan de Aréjula.
The course opening also served to showcase the improvements made in the city's educational centers. At the IES Marqués de Comares, investments since 2020 exceed 584,000 euros, covering space expansion, facility upgrades, energy efficiency, and climate control.
The Lucena City Council reaffirms its commitment to the educational community, aiming to enhance the learning and teaching conditions for students and staff in the new academic year.
