The budget increase extends to all areas of the department: 8.7% in investments, 16% in current goods and services, and 13% in transfers. The city has a network of 17 haurreskolas (early childhood centers), 29 Infant and Primary Education centers, and 2 Adult Lifelong Learning centers. Six out of every ten euros are allocated to their conservation and maintenance, a municipal responsibility mandated by law: 3,051,000 euros for preventive and corrective maintenance (500,000 euros more in the contract, a 20% increase) and 2,756,200 euros from Chapter 6 for improvements and new investments.
Eskola Klima, a specific municipal plan to respond to the climate emergency in educational centers, has been allocated 700,000 euros, 7% of the total. The program has started with thermal audits in three haurreskolas and will continue with diagnostics and a plan for sources, shade, and naturalization.
The expansion of public and free haurreskolas accounts for 18% of the budget, without the support of Next Generation funds. The free provision for the 0-3 year age group has increased applications, exceeding supply. Currently, there are 922 places for 0-2 year olds, and next September there will be 948. Planned actions include 26 additional places in Ametzola, modernization of Deusto, and improvements to the playgrounds of the haurreskolas in Iruarteta, Arangoiti, and Otxarkoaga.
Inclusive, green, and open playgrounds have a budget of 608,000 euros, 6% of the total. The most supported project in the Participatory Budgets has been the creation of new school playgrounds in Zurbaran, Iruarteta, Pagasarribide, and Basurto. The playgrounds open on weekends continue without the Employment Plan, relying on social initiative to sustain the service in two centers.
Socio-educational support to compensate for inequalities will have 244,576 euros and the service will be put out to tender again. It serves 180 children, from Primary to ESO (secondary education), and reaches neighborhoods such as Iturrigorri, Peñaskal, Uretamendi, or Betolaza. The area will continue with the Ongi Izatea program and will pilot a new project at Mujika Eskola.
Extracurricular activities and STEAM innovation will have 265,000 euros, 100,000 more than this year, within the education support program, which incorporates a new line of early morning classrooms for AMPAs (Parent Associations), up to 7,500 euros per center. School swimming will receive 140,000 euros, 20,000 more, with improvements to general modules and those for special educational needs. In addition, 60,000 euros are allocated for ten new Casilda Iturrizar scholarships and 15,000 euros for the Municipal School Council's facilitation service.
The department also maintains agreements with entities working in the educational field in the city: BIGE Gurasoen Elkartea (14,800 euros), the Eskolan kantari program with the Sociedad Coral de Bilbao (8,000), Abusu Sarea's “Un barrio que educa” (10,800), Gaztezurbi Gozaldi in Zurbaran (8,000), and the socio-educational space in Rekalde (22,000).
The budget project includes all agreements reached in the Plenary and remains open to contributions from municipal groups.
