Agramunt institute rejects plainclothes police in schools

The Ribera del Sió institute in Agramunt has formally requested that the Catalan education department exclude it from the Eduseg programme, a pilot scheme to introduce plainclothes Mossos d'Esquadra officers into schools. The institute informed families of its decision, according to sources close to the centre.

Agramunt's decision means three institutes have now opted out of the controversial initiative. The Alfons Costafreda institute in Tàrrega rejected the plan last Thursday, and the Margarida Xirgu institute in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, also withdrew.

In a communication sent to families, the Ribera del Sió management stated that despite information from the education department, the Eduseg plan "has been accompanied by a significant volume of often imprecise and biased information." This, the letter continued, "has generated an image of the centre far from reality and has caused concern among part of the educational community."

Community Concerns Lead to Withdrawal

Considering "the majority sentiment of the educational community," the Ribera del Sió management communicated its intention to the education department. This was done "with the desire to preserve the good functioning of the centre and the well-being of the students," the letter explained.

The Eduseg programme, or the Comprehensive Plan for Safety and Well-being in the Educational Environment, was launched by the Catalan government as a pilot in 15 secondary schools across Catalonia. This included two centres in Val d'Aran and four in the Urgell region.

Ongoing Debates in Other Centres

While the management of the Escòla d'Ostaleria de Les has expressed willingness to "collaborate" with the government's initiative, other Lleida centres included in the pilot are still debating their participation. These include the Institut d'Aran in Vielha, Lo Pla d'Urgell in Bellpuig, and the Manuel de Pedrolo in Tàrrega.

Since the official presentation of the Eduseg plan on Tuesday, the education department has maintained that Mossos d'Esquadra officers will not enter classrooms.