Andorra Allocates €944K to Expand School Playground Supervision from 2026

The Andorran government has approved €944,232 to expand midday supervision services managed by the Associació de Mares i Pares d’Alumnes de l’Escola Andorrana (AMPAEA) at three additional schools: the primary centres in Sant Julià de Lòria and Ordino, and the Santa Coloma secondary school.

This will add around 30 new monitors, bringing the total staff across Andorran schools to approximately 130. The expansion covers playgrounds, dining areas, and leisure time during lunch hours, known as Espai Migdia. AMPAEA, which began managing these services three academic years ago, now oversees eight schools directly, up from previous additions in Escaldes-Engordany and Canillo (2024-2025), and Ordino and Encamp secondaries plus La Massana (last year).

The funding replaces a concessionaire company whose contract ends next year, fulfilling a demand AMPAEA has raised for over a decade. Allocation will vary by school needs, such as pupil numbers, available spaces, and whether students leave the premises—Santa Coloma receives the largest share this year. Full coverage of all 11 Escola Andorrana centres is planned for 2027-2028, including the remaining primaries in Encamp and Andorra la Vella, and all baccalaureate sites.

AMPAEA manager Mireia Muñoz emphasised that monitors' roles extend beyond supervision. They must hold qualifications or relevant experience, interact with pupils, promote social skills, resolve conflicts, and align activities with each school's pedagogical goals. "The Espai Migdia project goes far beyond simple playground oversight," she said. "Children spend many hours together, so misunderstandings are normal, and conflicts will always arise at recess."

Officials said the initiative improves safety, inclusion, and support for students' well-being and interactions outside class time.