The connection between Valbanera and the island of Lanzarote is unclear. However, the educational community of IES El Tablero Aguañac, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, has received recognition for its daily work. The school has been awarded the Valbanera Distinction for Canarian Migration, in the immigration category, for the year 2026. This award, granted by the Government of the Canary Islands and published today in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC), recognizes the institute's "outstanding track record" in "promoting intercultural coexistence, educational inclusion, and the formation of a citizenry committed to respecting diversity."
IES El Tablero Aguañac has established itself as a leading school in Gran Canaria by integrating interculturalism as a central pillar of its educational project. The school has made a firm commitment to educating students in the values of coexistence, participation, equality, and mutual respect, transforming the cultural diversity present in its classrooms into an opportunity for learning and collective enrichment.
Currently, the school has students from over thirty different nationalities, reflecting the multicultural reality of southern Gran Canaria. The school has successfully managed this reality, fostering mutual understanding and overcoming prejudices and stereotypes.
One of the key elements for receiving this recognition is the development of the project “Africa: A Positive Perspective.” This initiative, promoted by the school, aims to bring the reality of the African continent closer to students from a positive perspective, fostering a critical and respectful view.
Thanks to this project, the students of IES El Tablero Aguañac have been able to explore migration, cultural diversity, and the relationship between the Canary Islands and Africa from a perspective based on respect, empathy, and coexistence. This work prepares future generations for a global and pluralistic society.
Along with the IES El Tablero Aguañac, the decree of the Government of the Canary Islands also grants the Valbanera Distinction in the field of immigration to the Association of Volunteers in Emergencies and Rescue of Lanzarote (EMERLAN NGO), for its intense humanitarian work on the Atlantic migration route.
In the field of emigration, the award winners were Steve Alfonso Chiscano, for his work in promoting the Canarian legacy in the United States, and the Federation of Canarian Entities of Venezuela (FEDECANARIAS), for its service to the Canarian community residing in the South American country.
This recognition represents an important boost to the daily work of the entire educational community of IES El Tablero Aguañac, reaffirming the fundamental role of education in building a more inclusive, supportive and respectful Canarian society.
