Families will go on hunger strike to prevent the closure of the private Osotu Lanbarri school in Güeñes

The Association of Mothers and Fathers of the Osotu Lanbarri Private School in Güeñes (Bizkaia) has announced the start of an indefinite hunger strike because the Basque Government is not responding to the funding of the school. More than 60% of students remember that they have special needs or needs.

He has warned the Department of Education of the "risk" of closing schools due to lack of funding, but has not managed to solve it. "We have only received one email calling us to meet on September 2 and by then it will be late. "

He has therefore announced that some 20 people from the families of the students will start an indefinite hunger strike in front of the headquarters of the Basque Government in Bilbao.

The Department of Education said in a statement that Osotu "is a private school whose viability and situation are the responsibility of the owners."

"The extraordinary grants granted last year and the recently approved have responded to the Basque Government's willingness to cooperate, but have nothing to do with the structural situation of the centre, "he added.

According to the Basque Government, "it is up to the managers of the educational project to make the necessary decisions to ensure economic viability and the future".

García Rey has said that with the extra aidof EUR 400,000 paid to them by the Department of Education in the course 23/2024 , two courses have been funded, since of the second extraordinary aid approved this Monday, 28 July, theyhave not received "a single euro" and the school has no money to pay taxes and social security for workers.

The Basque Government proposed to the centre in July 2023an agreement with two exceptional aid options for the next two courses.

In return, Education called for "a series ofchanges and restrictions "to adapt to the reality of a concerted school, namely the development of an ordinary enrollment procedure and the presentation of an annual economic balance sheet.

This summer, the school has denounced that the Basque Government has' unjustifiably delayed 'the approval of the grant, which has been carried out after the end of the school year, without making any estimate of the payment period, which has left the school in a critical situation .

"They don't pick up our phone or let us know" when that money will arrive, and "we have no other way" to fight for the future of the school, García Rey regrets.

In 2024/25, the school had 202 pupils, of whom 93 (46 per cent) had special needs . In addition, 50 other pupils (25 per cent) receive personalized support, which is not found in other centres, and 16 per cent of students receive high-capacity adaptations.

Students and families have sent letters to Counselor Begoña Pedrosa saying , "It's not a whim: it's a necessity for many children. "ESO students have asked not to close the school, which is" special, "and" that's why it's worth protecting, because it helps students who can't find a place in their usual schools, and because they really care about diversity. "