Madrid, 17 December 2024. On Tuesday, December 17, a meeting was held between representatives of CICAE (Association of Private and Independent Schools) and the Regional Minister of Education of the Community of Madrid, Emilio Viciana, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Educational Policy and Organization, José Carlos Fernández Borreguero, and the Director General of Subsidized Education, Scholarships and Study Aids, Jorge Elías de la Peña y Montes de Oca. During the meeting, CICAE presented the IX Study of Fees and Prices of Subsidized Schools (Special Community of Madrid) and proposed measures to guarantee free and equitable education financed with public funds.
A necessary commitment to solve an unsustainable situation
CICAE expressed its concern about the commercialization of the subsidized model in the Community of Madrid, where the charging of fees to families jeopardizes the principle of free compulsory education. The report presented by the association highlights that 99% of the subsidized schools in this report charge a basic fee to families, with an average of 125.68 euros per month, which can reach up to 5,000 euros per year when including other services. In addition, 31% of these centers recognize that they take exclusion measures for those who cannot assume these payments.
“We are here to collaborate and try to offer solutions. We understand that education should be accessible to all families, without economic cost being a barrier,” stated Gabriel Castellano, president of CICAE. “It is not acceptable that some can do business with public funds, the concert was not created for that purpose,” he added.
Proposals for action to guarantee free education
During the meeting, CICAE presented a series of concrete measures, such as the review and modification of the instructions of the Regional Ministry on the collection of fees in concerted stages, regardless of their denomination. Or to ensure transparency in the information that schools provide to families about any type of payment.
The Counselor, the Vice-Counselor and the Director General showed a remarkable openness to dialogue and listened attentively to the proposals presented by CICAE.
An educational model in danger
The report also revealed that 40% of the subsidized schools in Madrid are commercially owned, despite the fact that they are assimilated to charitable educational entities, which apply more aggressive practices regarding the collection of fees and the exclusion of students. “We are seeing how the subsidized model is being distorted, charging abusive fees for services that should be free,” explained Elena Cid, general director of CICAE.
CICAE reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the Regional Ministry to solve this problem and expressed its confidence that this dialogue will be the first step to put an end to the abusive fees of some subsidized schools that represent a clear unfair competition both for public education and for subsidized education that “does things right”, and for private education.
