Vall de Gallinera school with just three pupils shuts
Rural exodus threatens village's future
VALL de Gallinera school has shut down for good this week as it only has three pupils left.
Another clear sign of the rural exodus just behind the Marina Alta's touristy 'frontline', the shrinking population and near-zero birth rate has meant the primary school in Alpatró is unable to justify staying open any longer.
One of the eight residential 'clusters' spread out kilometres apart along the Gallinera valley which, collectively, make up the village named after it, Alpatró was a hive of activity in late spring as it was these residents' turn to host the popular annual cherry festival, but otherwise, it is fast declining.
With no jobs outside familyinherited agricultural work, younger adults of childbearing age are forced to move away since the commute to the nearest builtup area is too far and services such as health centres, public transport and school places are minimal, or non-existent.
As a result of the latest casualty of the valley's population decline, the three remaining pupils will be bussed every day into neighbouring Benialí, a 'cluster' six kilometres away.
By doing so, they will be increasing the school's headcount by nearly 16% - the existing pupils, whose ages range from infants to late teens, currently number just 19.
They have one teacher for primary children and one for high-school aged kids.
Award-winning novelist calls for change
Author of the Mallorca Narrative Prize-winning novel Ulysses II – available on Amazon in English – Ignasi Mora has urged regional education authorities to fund a canteen at the school and a classroom for children aged two to three.
That way, says Mora, the Vall de Gallinera will prevent an exodus of pupils to Pego, Villalonga and Planes, where schools already have lunch facilities.
It could even increase pupils numbers to over 30, he predicts.
The writer, whose short dystopian novel about a man who has to rediscover his life, and love, in 24 hours after losing his memory – during which he finds out unpalatable truths about himself – was released in English in 2010, points out that the council already owns a plot between the hubs of Benialí and Benissivà with mains drainage and connected to the water and electricity supply, which could serve as a site for a new school building.
It would allow for disabled access, too, unlike the existing school which was built in the 1950s and is full of staircases.
Providing decent school facilities would help prevent the village from dying out, especially where parents are able to work from home and do not have to commute nearly 20 kilometres to the nearest large town, Ignasi says.