Zaragoza has kicked off the school year with important updates in its network of Municipal Infant Schools (EIMZ): three new classrooms, an investment close to one million euros in facility improvements, and the announcement of an ambitious project in Arcosur. In total, over 900 children have begun classes this September in a municipal service that maintains 77 classrooms and offers 944 places, well above the demand, which exceeded a thousand applications.
The Mayor Natalia Chueca, along with the delegated councilor for Education Paloma Espinosa, visited the El Andén nursery school in the Delicias neighborhood, highlighting the municipal commitment to quality and modernization of the service.
“Year after year, we continue to seek excellence. We are talking about childcare and family support, a central axis of our policies,” emphasized Chueca.
The three newly opened classrooms are located in neighborhoods with significant population growth: María Urrea (Actur), Brioletas (Santa Isabel), and Parque Venecia. Of the 944 places offered, 504 are for new enrollments for children born between 2023 and 2025. The distribution of applications reflects demographic pressure in the youngest age groups: 227 requests for children aged 0 to 1 year, 619 for ages 1-2 years, and 360 for ages 2-3 years.
Inclusion from Early Childhood
The network of Infant Schools also maintains a pioneering program of specialized care classrooms, in collaboration with the Atades association. This service, unique in Zaragoza, caters to children with potential learning difficulties after an initial assessment, ensuring their adaptation and progress from very early stages. This school year sees an investment of 165,000 euros, benefiting eight students at the EIMZ María Urrea in combined modality.
Investment in Facilities: Efficiency and Comfort
The summer has been used to undertake works in different centers with a total investment close to one million euros. Highlights include actions at:
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Los Vientos (Actur): installation of photovoltaic panels for self-consumption, aerothermal energy, and climate control, with an investment of 421,685 euros and an estimated saving of 9.2 tons of CO₂ annually.
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Villacampa (Arrabal): completion of climate control for 309,823 euros.
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La Piraña: initiation of a climate control project that will exceed half a million euros.
With these actions, the City Council will have completed the comprehensive climate control of the 13 centers in the network, a key advance to improve the comfort of students and professionals. Additionally, maintenance works were carried out in centers such as El Andén, El Bosque, Parque Venecia, La Paz, María Urrea, Pirineos, and Brioletas, focused on painting, repairing facilities, and adjusting spaces.
The New School in Arcosur: A Look to the Future
The major future investment is the construction of the new Nursery School in Arcosur, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Zaragoza. The project, valued at 3 million euros, includes a modular building that will reduce timelines and costs while maintaining quality standards. The bidding process anticipates a three-month timeframe for project drafting and twelve months for construction, aiming to open the center as soon as possible.
An Expanding Public Service
In addition to expanding places and improving facilities, the City Council maintains support policies for families, such as the Family Voucher, which until last school year allocated 2.8 million euros and benefited nearly 4,000 households.
With these measures, Zaragoza reinforces an educational network that not only meets the growing demand but also anticipates the future with a model that combines innovation, sustainability, and inclusive attention. An investment in childhood as a strategic investment in the social development of the city.
