Four years after the roof collapsed in February 2022, students at Escuela Básica N° 5.642 San Alfonso in the San Alfonso neighborhood of Pilar finally have a new school infrastructure. The inauguration took place this Wednesday, with the presence of municipal authorities, teachers, and families.
For nearly a year, students attended improvised classes in the warehouse of the Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios del Paraguay, the "Azules," while awaiting a definitive solution. The new construction cost approximately 1.4 billion guaraníes, funded by FONAES, royalties, and contributions from the Pilar city government, according to Mayor Fernando Ramírez (ANR).
The new building has two floors, six classrooms, a multipurpose hall, a kitchen with a dining area, gender-separated restrooms, and a renovated electrical system. The ceremony was attended by Municipal Council President Gerardo Valoriani (ANR), councilors Marita Campias (PLRA) and Maida Fernández (ANR), and departmental councilor Eleuteria López (ANR).
The mayor thanked the firefighters for providing space during the most critical period. However, several parents noted that the institutional response came late and that the community suffered for years with deteriorating infrastructure that showed signs of risk before the collapse.
School director Lilio Verón expressed satisfaction with the new facilities and committed to preserving them. Former director Erika Vargas, visibly moved, recalled the institution's early days: "We started with a single classroom and, thanks to the support of neighbors, parents, and merchants, the school grew. Today it is moving to see how that seed turned into this great school."