Surveillance at Schools Will Also Be Increased During Afternoons and Nights to Prevent Intrusions in Spain

The Spanish government will reinforce security at schools and on school routes in Ceuta with police and military presence from the start of the school year, the Secretary of State for Education, Abelardo de la Rosa, announced on Wednesday. The security operation will cover entrances, exits and recess periods, with priority given to schools in the most problematic areas. Surveillance at schools will also be increased during afternoons and nights to prevent intrusions.

A psychosocial support plan for students and families will be launched amid tensions caused by the migration crisis in the city. De la Rosa made the announcement after taking part in the Local Security Board convened to plan the operation ahead of the start of the school year in a city experiencing particular tension due to the migration crisis. He assured that "the school year in Ceuta is going to start exactly as planned" and asked families to trust the security forces, the Government Delegation and the Ministry of Education to ensure students can attend class "with the necessary security.

The operation includes uniformed presence on school routes, at bus stops and near schools during entrances and exits, as well as during recess. Surveillance of schools will also be reinforced during afternoons and nights when there is no teaching activity, with the aim of preventing intrusions. The secretary of state explained that the specific distribution of personnel will be up to the security forces, who are determining the needs of each school and route." He noted, however, that schools in areas currently considered most problematic will have "greater priority and greater interest, although he insisted all will have the necessary protection.

Representatives of the National Police, Civil Guard, Local Police, Armed Forces and Civil Protection took part in the meeting, along with the Government Delegation, to coordinate the security operation. De la Rosa also indicated that schools are prepared from a material and organizational standpoint. According to him, they have been cleaned and necessary repairs have been carried out, while measures will be adopted to prevent outsiders from entering the schools.

The ministry is also preparing a psychosocial support plan for students and families to help them cope with the stress arising from the crisis the city is experiencing." "We know that tension is also reproduced in the students, the secretary of state said. The education calendar maintains the official start of the school year for schools on September 1, while students in Infant, Primary and Secondary education will return on September 8. De la Rosa defended that educational activity "is a right and a duty and should not be interrupted, so it is up to the administrations to guarantee the necessary security conditions for its development. The announcement comes as Ceuta has seen protests against the government's handling of the migration crisis, with residents taking to the streets in recent days.