Education Ministry Cancels In-Person Classes in Fuerteventura Friday Over Storm

Closure Details

The Canary Islands Government’s Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports has announced that schools must remain closed and shift to online teaching on Thursday, 19 March, across all islands of the western province—Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro—as well as La Graciosa (due to adverse coastal conditions). Gran Canaria will join the closure in the afternoon and evening. The remote‑learning mode will continue throughout the entire day on Friday, 20 March, for the whole archipelago.

Reason for the Decision

The measure follows the recommendations and preventive actions issued by the Department of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, through the General Directorate of Emergencies and Civil Protection. The aim is to avoid travel that could endanger the population, especially the educational community, amid the convergence of meteorological factors expected to affect the islands in the coming days.

Remote‑Learning Arrangements

Teaching will be conducted online whenever technical conditions allow. For subjects where remote delivery is not feasible, classes will be suspended. To ensure continuity, the Department of Education has provided schools with tools for online instruction, and recent instructions have been sent to all educational centers.

Safety Recommendations

The Department reminds school management teams to adopt basic preventive measures, such as:

• Inspecting gutters and water‑drainage channels to keep them free of blockages.
• Checking any structures that could be affected by strong winds.

All members of the educational community are urged to stay alert to updates issued through the official channels of the Government of the Canary Islands and to follow the guidance of the General Directorate of Emergencies and Civil Protection.