The Government of the Canary Islands and the Adeje Council have inaugurated the new Special Education Centre (CEE) in Adeje. Set to start operations in the 2026/2027 academic year, the centre will initially accommodate 29 students, enhancing the public special education offerings in southern Tenerife.
This new facility will provide accessible specialised education for children from Adeje, Arona, Guía de Isora, and Santiago del Teide, who previously had to travel to a centre in San Miguel de Abona. It will also take over from the Los Cristianos classroom, offering families in the area closer educational support.
During the opening ceremony, the local education minister, Poli Suárez, described the centre’s launch as a significant milestone in providing dignified support for students with special educational needs. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts with the Adeje Council to realise this project, while also noting the ongoing need for more resources in the region.
Looking ahead, Suárez stated that discussions are planned with the San Miguel de Abona Council to secure additional facilities for students in Guargacho, and that work is ongoing with the Arona Council to draft plans for a new special education centre.
The new CEE forms part of the comprehensive renovation of a municipal building, financed with nearly one million euros from the education ministry. The centre features an infant classroom, two primary classrooms, and two transition-to-adult-life classrooms, as well as specialised areas for occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and a multisensory room. It has been adapted for accessibility, including the installation of lifts and ramps.
The centre will operate with a dedicated team tailored to meet the needs of its initial cohort, comprising eight therapeutic pedagogues, a speech therapist, and an educational guidance professional. Additional staff includes nine educational assistants, a nurse, three support staff, a physiotherapist, and an occupational therapist, alongside five adapted transport routes now serving the centre.
Furthermore, the new CEE is part of the Southern Tenerife Educational Infrastructure Shock Plan for 2024-2031, which aims to address rising school enrolments and population growth in the region. The plan currently includes 29 projects with an expected investment exceeding 82 million euros, of which ten are already completed. Recent updates have highlighted advancements in eight ongoing projects, including new developments in San Miguel de Abona.
