Last March, the Andalusian government agreed with the First Cycle of Early Childhood Table to return 119 million of European funds to the Spanish government for early childhood education from 0 to 3 years, considering that the bases were incompatible with the Andalusian model, characterized by a vast network of private centers and with more supply than demand. Six months later, the Council of Ministers he distributed the money that corresponded to Andalusia among other territories (emphasizing the strategy of confrontation of models with the autonomies of the PP that marked this beginning of the political journey). Meanwhile, the Andalusian Government has not yet defined how it intends to fulfill its commitment to free education and is waiting on the sidelines for the 2025 Autonomous Budget to grant it.
“Every effort was made. But there was no dialogue from the government and we only had the option of returning the funds to continue to progress in free education as far as possible,” explains the Minister of Educational Development and Vocational Training. Carmen Castillewho recalled that the sector had expressly asked the Council not to use these resources.
From there, with the rejected money, the Andalusian government is working on the formula to begin the progressive implementation of free childbirth from 0 to 3 years from 2025, a decision that must be formalized in the coming months and will have as its inflection point the regional budget for 2025.
Everything, in any case, will be done in accordance with the early childhood education table that is working on various possibilities. From a progressive application from year to year to an increase in the bonuses that already make this educational internship free in Andalusia for half of the families.
Thus, he criticized the “express refusal” of the Andalusian Government to proceed with the creation of 12,000 new places in early childhood education public and free. “There was an express renunciation on the part of Andalusia to execute these 112 million euros that would have allowed the possibility of a free public square,” he assured.
The Minister of Education has expressly criticized the position of the Junta de Andalucía and its rejection of these funds: “It is the Junta de Andalucía which, through a letter, informs us of the rejection and restitution of the funds of 112 million euros. We have made a new distribution, we have started a new call with these first 32 million which will be completed until reaching 112,” the minister stressed.
