Teachers, staff, and students have filed a mass complaint against the Castelldefels Hospitality School. They allege fraudulent use of public subsidies and severe mistreatment of vulnerable students. The Catalan Employment Service (SOC) launched an investigation into the school, located in the coastal town of Castelldefels, following these serious claims.

The complaints detail falsified attendance signatures, obsolete equipment, undeclared payments, and abuse of power by the school's director, Raimon Martínez. Over the past two weeks, SOC inspectors have conducted four visits. They interviewed dozens of individuals to assess the misuse of public funds.

"Students have lost valuable time and worked for free, they have neither completed the course nor achieved residency," one teacher stated. Many students are young people in vulnerable situations. Some rely on course completion to regularise their residency status in Spain.

The school received over €850,000 from the SOC in 2025 alone for its subsidised courses. To secure these payments, students must attend at least 75% of classes. However, an administrative staff member admitted, "[The director] asked me to sign for a student," indicating falsified attendance records.

Students reportedly worked in the school's restaurant without adequate training. They did not receive the theoretical and practical lessons outlined in their programmes. "They were not prepared," a teacher confirmed. Students were placed in the kitchen and dining room just weeks into their courses. They lacked basic knowledge of food hygiene or presentation.

"We worked for him, we were not doing a course," a student claimed. This student had left a job to pursue the training. She hoped to gain the certification needed for residency. Other students, some without Spanish or Catalan language skills, faced scolding for their service. This happened despite receiving no plating instruction. "We were never a school, but a restaurant," the student concluded.

Undeclared Work and Coercion

Students also worked at events contracted by the school. This included some for public institutions like Castelldefels City Council. They received undeclared payments and worked outside their scheduled hours. Sometimes this was on weekends, without being registered with social security. "If something had happened to the students without being registered, what would have happened?" a teacher questioned.

Many students come from vulnerable backgrounds. For non-Spanish citizens, course attendance provides a certificate crucial for demonstrating "arraigo" (social integration) and regularising their status. "They are people seeking residency, at social risk," a third teacher summarised.

Some students did not receive their certificates due to detected problems and non-compliance with SOC requirements. This created significant issues for their residency applications. One student recounted, "He told us that those who stayed later would get a certificate. He bought us with a certificate."

A joint complaint to the SOC from one course detailed "coercions" to work in the restaurant. Students expressed fear of "reprisals" from the centre's management. Dual Vocational Training students, who should have received a monthly payment, experienced weeks of delays. "I am very alone, I worked and I left it because I saw the training as an opportunity. I have to pay bills, debts do not wait," another student stated. She received no payment for the first month.

Substandard Facilities and Teaching

Teachers, staff, and students consistently reported student mistreatment. Some students were asked to leave without cause. Others faced pressure for complaining about conditions. "Did they kick me out because I'm a Roma person? Because of my ethnicity?" one young man asked.

A teacher reported that the teaching coordinator called students "pawns." He said they were "nobody," existing at the centre "thanks to the subsidy." Significant deficiencies exist in the school's materials and facilities. "It does not meet cleanliness or safety requirements. The classrooms are undignified. Changing rooms were missing. There are no chambers to separate food properly. The machinery and material are obsolete," a teacher listed. The kitchen extractor reportedly malfunctions. Students have fainted from high temperatures. They must eat outside due to a lack of a dining area.

To meet computer lab requirements, witnesses described how management falsified a video. It showed more computers than were actually present. Many were employees' personal laptops. "I don't understand how such a space can have accreditation," a professor concluded.

The SOC previously stated that inspections since the school's registration in 2024 found no irregularities. Two inspections in 2025 also "did not detect significant incidents nor were any complaints transmitted by students." However, several complaints have emerged in recent months. Additionally, classes were sometimes taught by administrative staff. They used AI-generated scripts provided by Mr Martínez, rather than by accredited teachers.

Director's History of Irregularities

Multiple sources indicate that similar issues occurred at other entities where Mr Martínez previously worked. At least three such cases are known. In one instance, a foundation also in Castelldefels, the Generalitat detected irregularities in three training courses. It suspended €41,000 in funds. This followed findings of non-teachers giving classes and manipulated attendance sheets.

"I discovered he had deceived us," a board member from that foundation recalled. An ex-employee from another entity stated, "I know his character, I believe everything. I have seen how he manipulated company certificates to send them to the SOC." She cited an example of someone registered for work without actually working. This was done to justify and claim aid.

A teacher noted, "The problem is that he doesn't know about cooking, and even the school's logos are wrong." He pointed out an incorrect cutlery arrangement in the logo. A former colleague explained, "He comes from many years of working and justifying subsidies. He knows the small print very well." Another former employee added, "Nobody who cannot be subsidised enters the school."

While the investigation continues, the SOC has instructed the school to "refrain from starting new training activities" for now. The service has also assured that "students who have completed their training or those currently undertaking it will not be affected." Barna.News attempted to contact Mr Martínez for comment but received no response.

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Originally published by Ara Cat. Read original article.