Regarding the controversial decision to dismantle the barracks, Puig described the move as a policy that carries strong symbolic weight. He noted a shift in administrative management at the regional level and highlighted a measurable improvement in education: the rate of school failure dropped from 23.4% in 2014 to 12.8% in 2021, a change he framed as opening thousands of life opportunities and better futures for young people.
In line with a broader preventive agenda, the administration announced an adolescent awareness campaign set to begin this fall. The program will focus on preventing suicidal behaviors, self-harm, and bullying, delivered by a team of psychologists who will visit second and fourth year of secondary education classes to engage with students directly in those critical years.
In his remarks, Puig contrasted the Valencian Community with regions that have different scholarship profiles, underscoring the region’s status as the leader in scholarships. He referenced a statement by Madrid’s president about not providing special education support for families earning above 100,000 euros, implying a policy divergence and defending a more inclusive funding approach for Valencian students.
On the staffing side, the administration announced plans to involve 750 teachers with the aim of reducing class size and enhancing student attention, targeting a ratio of around 15 students per class. The regional effort also includes substantial support for school meal programs, with canteen aid reaching 145,000 students, and the XarxaLlibres program assisting almost half a million children with free textbooks, a clear investment in equal educational access for families across the community.
Turning to Vocational Training (FP), Puig announced the opening of a new training center designed to meet the needs of industry partners, including Volkswagen’s forthcoming gigafactory at Parc Sagunt II. The development also includes plans near the City of Light in Alicante to strengthen the audiovisual sector, aligning with upgrades to studio facilities and the regional media ecosystem to support local talent and production capacity.
Additionally, Valencia is advancing a digital competence network to support virtual education. The initiative has already rolled out 120 training sessions in rural and interior areas, with plans to add more beginner courses in the coming years at ten integrated VET centers. The list of planned sites includes five in Alicante, Elche, Dénia, and Sagunt (two centers), with another five projected in Castellón de la Plana, Gandia, Sant Joan, Vila-real, and Guardamar. This expansion aims to build digital literacy, broaden access to online resources, and strengthen the region’s workforce for a knowledge-driven economy, all while ensuring that students in smaller towns receive equivalent opportunities to those in larger cities. (Source attribution: Valencian Community government communications and regional education briefings.)