Guadalest looking for a child for the school

IT’S been said that more people visit Guadalest than the El Prado art museum in Madrid. There might be a relentless influx of tourists to the picturesque inland village but there are only 226 registered residents according to Spain’s National Statistics Office (INE).

And Guadalest needs more children: one child to be precise.  If the state-run village school is to remain open it needs five pupils and so far only four have been registered for the next school year.

Unless another child can be found, the other four will have a long drive each day either to Callosa d’en Sarria, Benimantell or even as far as La Nucia.

“Five is the minimum allowed by the Valencian Community,” said Guadalest mayor Enrique Ponsoda.

Six children were enrolled last year but four finished their primary education and will now go to secondary schools in neighbouring towns.

Two remain and another two have been registered. The town hall has offered municipal tax breaks to encourage parents to enrol their children at the school with the best views in Alicante province.