Santa Cruz Council Proposes Free Nursery School Fees from January 2026

The Santa Cruz City Council's Governing Board, led by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, has agreed to propose the cancellation of the fee for nursery school services to the Municipal Plenary. This follows a decision by the Governing Council of the Municipal Institute for Social Care (IMAS) on July 23, 2025, which officially asked for the fee to be scrapped. The change will take effect in January 2026.

Mayor Bermúdez welcomed the move, stating it shows the council's dedication to local families. He believes it will make early childhood education more affordable and fair, removing financial obstacles for parents. Bermúdez added that this effort, supported by the Social Welfare department's recognition as a "Child-Friendly City" by UNICEF, aims to ensure nursery school services remain high-quality and inclusive.

Charín González, the councilor responsible for this area, explained that dropping the fee is part of a broader social policy to help families better balance work and life, and improve the well-being of households in Santa Cruz. She noted that the current ordinance was first approved on January 29, 2016, published on July 11, 2016, and later amended on January 18, 2017, with changes taking effect on September 3, 2017.

This action by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council reinforces its commitment to providing high-quality, accessible early childhood education that promotes equal opportunities, further strengthening the council's focus on social and educational policies for the municipality.