Did you know that the Institut d’Educació Secundària Politècnic is one of the oldest schools in Mallorca? It opened its doors in 1932. Its goal was to provide quality vocational training for the first time on the island.
Welcome to the IES Politècnic. It is more than just a school. It’s a place with a rich past. Let’s explore some key moments in its history.
It is hard to summarize so many years of history. We will focus on four key milestones. I encourage you to explore the school’s story further. Visit the Education Museum and the Archive of Mallorca. Look through old newspapers. You will find many clues about our school.
Two books offer great insight. They are “Els Primers Cinquanta Anys del Politècnic” and “Els Següents Vint-i-Cinc Anys”. These books contain stories from people who were part of the school.
“Els Primers Cinquanta Anys del Politècnic” reveals the idea behind the school’s founding. Eduard Nouvilas wanted to create a school for workers. He was an engineer for the railway company in Mallorca. Nouvilas knew it was hard to find skilled workers. Craftsmen often kept their knowledge secret.
Thanks to this push, the first classes had eight mechanics. There were also five carpenters and two electricians in apprenticeship. Nine mechanics and five electricians were in the first official training. This was a first for Mallorca.
In 1934 Nouvilas asked for more space for the school. He appealed to the democratic spirit of the President of the Council.
This dedication led to a new location on Passeig Mallorca in 1965. The Politècnic grew to meet the community’s needs. It became a leader in vocational training on the island. The teachers’ passion made this growth possible. They loved their areas of expertise.
In 1999/2000 the Politècnic began offering ESO classes. It was a success. Later, they added Bachillerato studies. For years the Politècnic’s night Bachillerato helped students. It offered post-compulsory education that fit with work schedules. This program ended in 2020/2021. It was replaced by the Distance Education Institute of the Balearic Islands.
The ESO and Bachillerato staff are very proud. They face new challenges every day. They work hard to ensure no student is left behind.
The teachers strive to provide quality public education. They work through their subjects. They also participate in six committees. These connect the Politècnic to the community. The committees are Coeducation, Coexistence, Environmental, Health, Linguistic, and Audiovisual.
In just five years the school moved from chalkboards to digital boards. Notebooks and books became Chromebooks. During the 20/21 school year they shifted from traditional classes to hybrid learning. This was only possible with dedicated staff.
The Politècnic is not perfect. It is a school with character. Its building may be unique rather than grand. It reflects what you find inside. It may not be what you expect. But it offers a world of possibilities for those who want to learn. It is a historic place. It believes everyone is welcome in public education.