New Special Education Center Opens in Adeje to Boost Inclusive Learning

The new Special Education Center (CEE) in Adeje is set to open on September 9th, marking a major milestone for inclusive education in southern Tenerife. The launch of this facility ends years of uncertainty for students who previously had to move between temporary locations that lacked the proper infrastructure for those with severe special educational needs.

The new building will initially serve 23 students, finally addressing long-standing concerns from families. For years, parents had spoken out about the poor conditions at the former sites in Los Cristianos and Guargacho, where students lacked basic necessities like elevators and dining halls. In contrast, the new center is fully accessible and features garden areas and specialized spaces for physical and cognitive development. This includes a "domestic simulation" classroom designed to help students up to age 21 build the skills needed for adult life.

School director Francisco Otero emphasized that the move is about more than just a better building; it allows for more individualized care. The center uses an "exceptional schooling" model for students who require more support than a mainstream classroom can provide. With a stable teaching staff, the school focuses on creating consistent routines and using tools like pictograms to help students thrive, as the center often serves as their primary environment for social interaction.

While the project faced several delays over the years, the Adeje City Council’s decision to provide the land was the turning point needed to finish the facility. The center is designed with the potential to double its capacity in the future. With this opening, the region’s educational map is now divided between the new Adeje center—which will serve surrounding municipalities—and the existing facility in Guargacho. This change not only improves learning conditions but also ensures that students receive the quality of life and support they deserve.