Spain education sectors face strikes and protests at start of school year

Spanish education sectors are facing significant unrest as the new school year begins. In the Valencian Community, teachers have resumed protests, maintaining that their indefinite strike remains in suspension rather than being canceled. The Plataforma per l’Ensenyament Públic is pushing for better working conditions and educational quality, specifically regarding language and resource allocation.

In Madrid, a united strike committee including CCOO, UGT, and CGT has announced an indefinite strike starting October 14. Their demands include a reduction in teaching hours, lower student-to-teacher ratios, a 600-euro monthly salary increase, and improved infrastructure.

In Huesca, the CGT union has announced mobilizations for mid-September, questioning the autonomy of educational inspections and disputing disciplinary actions against union representatives.

Conversely, regional leaders in Valencia have highlighted improvements, such as the expansion of free 0-3 year old education, which has seen enrollment rise from 20,000 to 45,000 students. The Valencian government also noted a record teaching staff of nearly 84,000 educators and a significant budget allocation to modernize schools.