Private Educational Institution Shuts Down in Buenos Aires City After Completion of Academic Year
Hey there! Let me spill the beans on a recent school closure incident that left some families scratching their heads. School Alamos, a place where kids once learned, played, and grew, is shutting its doors.
It seems that the institution hasn't been weathering the storm of late, with enrollment dwindling for quite some time now. According to reliable sources in the education sector, the school's enrollment has been sparse for years, but it's surprising that it closed its shutters at this point in the academic year. It's believed that low birth rates, high maintenance costs, and the post-pandemic situation combined to make many schools like Alamos vulnerable.
One parent, Leticia Ríos, who had a child at this very school, shared her disbelief at the speed of the school's demise. "I never imagined it would be so fast," she told our website. Despite her daughter having a disability certificate, they planned to wait till the end so at least she could finish the year with her pals.
Rios recalled that the school had been plagued with teaching staff issues, with many teachers coming and going in quick succession. "It was every man for himself," she put it. Her concerns escalated when, in May, she sent an email to the school about the worsening situation, only to be ignored. Eventually, the owner called and assured her that they were working on a solution, but declined to meet with all the families to discuss matters.
You guessed it—everything fell apart in the first week of June. On Tuesday the 3rd, the director asked Leticia to withdraw her daughter because she, who was running the class due to a lack of teachers, wouldn't be able to teach anymore. Some families had already requested transfers to other schools by then. The next day, Leticia also reciprocated because the integration teacher informed her that there were only three students left. The school never communicated about the closure; it was a concerned parent who informed everyone on Thursday the 5th that they would shut down and that families should come to pick up their report cards the following day.
"No one explained anything. It's insane. Even the report card they gave us on Friday is irregular; it's all a mess," Leticia said. She also criticized the school's operations and questioned why there was no sanction for such behavior, expressing concern for the welfare of the children, who were being moved around.
Upon inquiry, the Ministry of Education of the city of Buenos Aires confirmed that they provided the required assistance. However, it's important to note that School Alamos didn't receive any government contributions, and they have no information on the notice period provided to families.
Teachers also reported irregularities and legal conflicts with School Alamos's owners, who did not respond to our website's inquiry. According to the teachers, they received their salaries in installments, with many not receiving their full salary by June. Some even started the month without having received the last complete payment, and in some cases, they didn't receive any contributions for the summer months.
In conclusion, the closure of School Alamos is a reminder of the challenges faced by private educational institutions in Argentina and elsewhere. These include reduced enrollment due to low birth rates, financial strain from high maintenance costs, and the impact of the post-pandemic situation. It's a sad state of affairs that leaves families and educators in a lurch and raises important questions about accountability and responsibility in the education sector.
Despite the challenges faced by School Alamos, a parent-run company specializing in education and self-development, the sudden closure left families and educators in disarray. The school's inability to address concerns and provide proper notice during the learning phase of the academic year has sparked discussions about accountability and responsibility within the private educational sector.
