The public education teachers of the Community of Madrid have mobilized again this Thursday after the little progress in the negotiations with the Ministry of Education of the government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The main unions in the sector (CCOO, UGT, ANPE and CSIF) and the Less Lectivas Teachers’ Assembly have joined the call for a general strike to once again demand improvements in their working conditions and the quality of the educational system.
Despite negotiations that began a year ago, progress has been limited. The last proposal from the Minister of Education, Emilio Viciana, proposed a progressive reduction of the school day over the next four years, but it was rejected as insufficient. The unions consider that the measures do not respond to the urgency of the situation nor do they have sufficient budgetary support.
The day began with a rally in front of the Ministry of Education, at 11:00 a.m., and continued with the unitary assembly in the Plaza de Peñuelas, organized by Menos Lectivas, where the possibility of an indefinite strike was discussed before end of course. This Thursday’s mobilizations culminate with a unitary demonstration, at 5:30 p.m., which will depart from Atocha.
Leticia, a teacher at a special education school, began the meeting with a message of unity and motivation: “It is exciting to see so many people here demanding and fighting together.” During his speech, he highlighted the breadth of the movement, represented by teachers from all the Territorial Area Directorates (DAT) of the Community of Madrid, and underlined the growth of the collective effort in more and more centers.
The main message has revolved around the need to change the current situation of public education in Madrid. Leticia recalled that the cuts since 2011 have seriously affected educational quality, overloading teachers and harming students. “We are here to reverse these cuts, improve our working conditions and defend quality public education,” he said.
The spokesperson for Menos Lectivas explained that since the beginning of this school year, the assemblies formed in the centers have multiplied and there are now more than 170. “This fight is born from the base and we decide, we have to constantly pressure until we Listen,” he concluded amid applause and shouts of support for public education. The spokespersons, at the end of their speech, assured that if necessary “the course will not be finished.”
A transversal mobilization
The affected teachers range from primary school teachers to special education and Vocational Training. They all agree to insist that the regional government must not only address their labor demands, but also reverse the cuts and attacks on public education. “It is time to prioritize investment in public education instead of diverting funds to public education,” the Assembly spokespersons explained.
Eva, a compensatory teacher and therapeutic pedagogue at Colegio República de Venezuela, has joined the strike to denounce the growing precariousness in public education: “They are forcing us to the maximum, always attending to ratio, and when they recognize the lack of teachers “They cover us with half people instead of assigning full resources.” Eva hopes that strong measures will emerge from the assembly that prioritize comprehensive care for the most vulnerable populations, highlighting that the fight goes beyond a school reduction: “It is about children really being cared for.”
Laura, a teacher at the Antonio Moreno Rosales school in Lavapiés, has participated in the assembly with the intention of moving towards an indefinite strike with the support of the families: “We need them for all this to work.”
The demands of the sector
Among the main requests, the reduction of the teaching day stands out – from 25 to 23 hours in Early Childhood and Primary, and from 20 to 18 in Secondary -, the reduction of ratios in classrooms, salary equalization, the increase in staff and the elimination of bureaucracy. Issues related to the reorganization of schedules to teach 1st and 2nd ESO in schools have also been added, a measure that, according to the unions, violates the autonomy of the centers and generates uncertainty among teachers.
This movement has also integrated the demands of other groups, such as the Psychopedagogical Guidance Teams and Vocational Training (FP) teachers. These sectors denounce the lack of public places in vocational training, the precariousness of guidance services and the cuts that affect Special Education schools.
The next meeting between the unions and the Ministry is scheduled for November 29. However, teachers are already planning a calendar of mobilizations that could extend beyond January if significant agreements are not reached.
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