The 2026-2027 school year kicked off today for Infant and Primary students in Lucena. Mayor Aurelio Fernández visited CEIP Barahona de Soto to welcome the 3,633 children starting their classes in the city.
During his visit, the mayor highlighted the work of the management teams and thanked Águeda Mata, the new director of CEIP Barahona de Soto, for her commitment. Mata faces this new stage "with great enthusiasm, eagerness, and the commitment to continue the school's educational project."
This year, 352 students are enrolling in 3-year-old Infant education for the first time, a figure that has been consolidating in recent years without the loss of any educational units. The new maximum ratio of 22 students per class has resulted in an average of fewer than 20 pupils in 3-year-old Infant classes, facilitating more individualized educational attention. CEIP Barahona de Soto has around 208 students this year, while the schools with the highest enrollment are CEIP Nuestra Señora de Araceli and El Prado.
The Lucena City Council has carried out improvements in educational facilities, including window renovations and the installation of air conditioning equipment at CEIP Barahona de Soto, one of the city's oldest centers. Currently, work is underway in the central courtyard to replace roofing.
Finally, the mayor announced a record increase in municipal aid for books and school supplies, totaling 75,000 euros and benefiting 906 students (258 in Infant and 648 in other levels). "We continue to try to help families at the start of this school year, a time that involves significant extraordinary expenses," he stated, wishing a good academic year to the entire educational community.
