ELGOIBAR COMMEMORATES 125 YEARS OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING, KEY TO INDUSTRIAL EVOLUTION

As part of the 125th anniversary of Vocational Training in Elgoibar, a tribute was held in the Plenary Hall of the Town Hall and in the Aita Agirre Cultural Centre, highlighting the evolution of this educational institution from its beginnings as a Drawing Academy to become an educational system adapted to the needs of modern industry.

The event was attended by Begoña Pedrosa, Minister of Education of the Basque Government, as well as mayors of Elgoibar, representatives of Vocational Training centres, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, and various authorities from the educational and business spheres.

Commitment to training since 1899

The day began in the Plenary Hall of the Town Hall, where Garazi Ayesta recalled the founding of the Drawing Academy in 1899, created at the request of the citizens to improve the training of workers in the local craft industry. During the event, the ‘Declaration of the 125th Anniversary of Vocational Training in Elgoibar’ was signed, a document that reaffirms the municipality's commitment to technical and vocational education.

This commitment has led to the evolution of Vocational Training in Elgoibar towards a system that now includes university training with a 2+3 programme, adapted to the needs of modern industry and other key areas. The declaration was signed by the mayoress Maialen Gurrutxaga, the councillor Begoña Pedrosa, the director of the MEKA centre, José Mari Beristain, and the director of Vocational Training of the IMH, Alaitz Bastida.

Recognition of the pioneers of technical training

Later, in the Aita Agirre Cultural Centre, tribute was paid to key figures in the history of technical training in Elgoibar. The work of Bernardo Ecenarro, the driving force behind the first Drawing Academy, and Amadeo Aizpitarte, who transformed the school into an official state-level centre, was highlighted. The work of Jesús Rementeria, representing the teaching staff, was also recognised.

During this part of the ceremony, two commemorative plaques were displayed and an aurresku of honour was offered, highlighting the importance of these figures in the development of vocational training in the municipality. The decisive contribution of the local community, which has been able to combine passion, initiative and knowledge to strengthen the machine tool sector, making Elgoibar an industrial benchmark, was also highlighted.

Vocational training, key to the development of Elgoibar

In the subsequent conferences, the relevance of collaboration between educational institutions and companies was highlighted. The synergy between both actors has been key to the growth of the industrial sector in the region. ‘Business and vocational training are an inseparable binomial’, stressed the authorities present, reaffirming the commitment to continue working together to meet the needs of industry, as well as other emerging sectors such as health and education.

Elgoibar's strategic vision has enabled Vocational Training not only to train highly qualified professionals in the machine tool sector, but also in sectors such as services, which has diversified the job offer and improved employment prospects in the town.