Tomasa Hernández inaugurates the Rural School Observatory in Aragón
Tomasa Hernández, the Minister of Education, Culture, and Sports of the Government of Aragón, has inaugurated the Rural School Observatory of Aragón in the Bayeu Room of the Pignatelli Building. During the event, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rural education as a fundamental factor for territorial cohesion and the development of Aragonese villages.
Hernández emphasized that rural schools serve as the true social elevator that balances the inequalities and challenges often associated with living in rural areas. She stressed that schools not only impart knowledge but also values and distinct characteristics of Aragonese communities, serving as the heart that keeps that culture alive.
The network of rural centers currently serves 8,059 students distributed among Grouped Rural Centers and single-teacher schools. By province, there are 3,174 students in Huesca, 2,471 in Teruel, and 2,414 in Zaragoza. The Government maintains 72 schools with ten students or fewer in the region: 35 in Teruel, 23 in Zaragoza, and 14 in Huesca, including cases of schools with only two students, such as the one in Alquézar.
The rural educational system is supported by 553 transportation routes and 134 dining facilities to ensure equality of opportunity. Additionally, over 120 vocational training qualifications are offered in rural areas with fewer than ten students. Scholarship programs have been implemented, with 1,969 for materials and 1,085 for meals. The Government has made an 8 million investment in infrastructure thanks to multiannual agreements with the Provincial Councils, allocating 3 million annually to the Rural Centers for Educational Innovation program.
The Observatory, a consultative and participatory body chaired by Minister Hernández, includes representatives from the educational administration, public health, parent associations, directors of rural centers, the Aragonese Federation of Municipalities, counties and provinces, trade unions and business organizations, as well as associations linked to the rural sector.
