The 23% increase in the number of students in the last four years leaves schools at the limit of their capacity and without being able to grow in places or cycles
Studying one of the many degrees that are offered in the Professional Training (FP) institutes of Cartagena is almost a safe option to find work. The pull of these degrees, with an increasing number of students and more adapted to the demands of the companies in the region, has made the institutes that teach them small, especially those specialized in this type of cycle. The integrated vocational training centers (CIFP) Politécnico, Carlos III, Hostelería y Turismo and Hespérides are at maximum capacity; so much so that, despite the growing demand for new grades, it is “impossible” to implement them “due to lack of space”, agree different heads of these institutions.
The one that most accuses this state is the CIFP of Hospitality and Tourism, located on Ingeniero de la Cierva street. It is not a temporary problem or one that has occurred in recent years, but has been dragging on for almost a decade. That is the time that the students have been occupying three classrooms of the associated center of the National University of Distance Education (UNED) of Cartagena, an institution that is located next to the institute. Despite the reform and expansion carried out by the Ministry of Education almost a decade ago, it is necessary to build more classrooms and new practice rooms.
From the center, whose director is Antonio García, they have been demanding for years an extension to an adjoining plot, on Ingeniero de la Cierva street, used by students and teachers as a parking lot. But the investment does not come. The Ministry of Education draws up the project to make four classrooms in the courtyard, with which “we could give some more cycle in the afternoons,” said García.
Almost 6,000 more young people have opted for this type of training, but the Ministry of Education only plans to enlarge the Hespérides Institute
Diet and hybrid vehicles
But this project would not end the lack of space, because according to García it would be necessary to continue using the UNED classrooms. His intention is to implant the degree of Dietetics, but without classrooms “they will not grant it to us.”
The Polytechnic institute is in a similar situation. Although this year it has become CIFP, a name that enables it to teach certification courses for workers and the unemployed, “they have not provided us with more resources,” complained Rosa Laborda, the director. The companies demand workers trained in degrees such as metal constructions, but it is impossible for him to implement the degree. The center is almost at 100% capacity. Even so, he will try to make room in the afternoons to teach it. It has 1,100 students, a number that has not changed in recent years, “because it is impossible to create more places,” he said. His studies are focused on the industrial branch.
A workshop is also missing to give practical classes on another highly demanded cycle, that of hybrid vehicles. «It is a type of training that they are already asking us for. It is the present and the future and that is why it should be offered as soon as possible, ”explained Laborda. For this, he sees necessary the construction of a new warehouse in one of the courtyards in the center. In this case, the Autonomous Community does not plan any type of investment to expand the facilities.
In the last four years, almost 6,000 students have joined one of these courses, which represents an increase of 23%. That is why in the four centers, the organization of the existing space is essential to serve the students. This is what Francisco Hernández, director of CIFP Carlos III, does with his team every year. Since he was appointed head of the center eight years ago, the number of students has gone from 800 to 1,500. «Most of them are from distance courses, but we have already reached a point where we cannot grow any further; It is impossible, “he assured THE TRUTH.
Bilingual and remote
As in the rest, the employability possibilities offered by the Carlos III studies is very high, especially in the specializations of Computer Science, Commerce, Marketing and Administration. Almost all students who leave these degrees, according to Hernández, “get a job.” The management is studying implementing, together with the General Directorate of Professional Training of the Autonomous Community, new specialization courses for next year, especially in the bilingual and distance modes. Lack of space will be one of the main obstacles.
The exception is the CIFP Hespérides, specialized in the maritime fishing industry. It is the only one for which the regional government has a modernization and expansion plan. The objective is to grow and adapt the training to the demand of the companies, according to the director, Antonio Arroyo.
The project foresees an investment of six million euros, to separate the VET facilities from those of ESO and Secondary of the Santa Lucía institute. Students and teachers already use the new facilities of the Lazareto building, located on the road to Muelle de Navidad, to teach degrees in underwater and hyperbaric activities, aquaculture cycles, and rescue and survival activities at sea.
The Fremm delivers to the City Council a sketch of the industrial and naval training center
The Regional Federation of Metal Entrepreneurs (Fremm) agreed two weeks ago to continue with the construction project of a training center for the industrial and naval sector in Cartagena. All this, despite the fact that the Labor Inspectorate claims about 1.7 million euros for Social Security contributions for the last 4 years linked to the training courses for employment given by self-employed teachers.
To promote the project, the Fremm has delivered to the City Council a sketch of the future training center, to study the necessary requirements, as far as land is concerned. This is precisely one of the biggest stumbling blocks that this business initiative has encountered.
The Consistory has to draw up an agreement to transfer a municipal plot of land in the Los Camachos industrial estate to the Fremm. Specifically, plot 22, located just behind the building of the failed Digital Content City (Contentpolis). But since May everything is paralyzed.
The problem, as the Councilor for Contracting and Heritage, María Amoraga, explained to LA VERDAD, is that the direct transfer of public land to a private entity cannot be processed. Therefore, he added, “we must analyze the legal channels that make it possible.”
One of them is to include the Autonomous Community in the agreement. The idea is to teach courses in industrial mechanics, welding and boilermaking, among other professional specialties.
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