The start of the school year in Ceuta passed without incident on 8 September 2026, according to consistent reports from the authorities and teachers’ unions. Attendance was close to 70 per cent, according to the government; the figures given were around 63 per cent in primary school and 83 per cent in secondary school. This was confirmed on Tuesday by the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, on Tuesday.
The first hours of lessons were calm, the teachers’ union UGT said. This is consistent with the assessment of the relevant authorities, which coordinated extensive security measures for the restart. According to them, in addition to the Policía Local and the Guardia Civil private security services were also deployed, depending on the situation and the size of each school. Military personnel were visibly present at some schools; others relied solely on civilian forces.
Differences between neighbourhoods are striking. In the neighbourhood of El Príncipe, which has been particularly in focus in recent weeks, lower pupil attendance and palpable unease in the community were reported. Teachers and parents there say families are holding back, although lessons and care were offered as usual. Schools in more central areas, by contrast, reported considerably higher attendance.
The authorities consider the start of classes an important step towards stabilising daily life. At the same time, they urged close monitoring of developments in the coming days. The Ministry of Education announced accompanying measures, including psychosocial support for children and ongoing assessments of the situation at school sites. Unions such as UGT and CSIF welcomed the reopening of schools, while also pointing to the pressure that remains palpable in particularly affected neighbourhoods.
The heightened security measures stem from the tense situation in Ceuta since the events of the summer, which polarised the city’s society and led to reports of individual assaults. The local Junta Local de Seguridad agreed a plan before the first day of school, providing for varying levels of police and security staff presence. As things stand, the authorities see no reason for further restrictions on school operations. However, they are cautious in their forecasts: attendance over the coming weeks will show whether families’ confidence becomes firmly established.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).