Catalonia's education sector launched a new series of protests this morning, with teachers blocking traffic and staging actions at schools. These mobilisations come ahead of a nursery school strike on Thursday, the first of 17 planned across all educational stages over the next month. The protests highlight demands for better public education and increased resources.
In L'Hospitalet, approximately 30 professionals blocked traffic on Sant Rafael Street, near Isabel la Catòlica Avenue. They chanted slogans such as "public and quality education," "more resources and fewer speeches," and "education strike." Maria Samper, a teacher at a city institute, told ACN that the day aims to inform the public and students about the upcoming strike calendar and its reasons. She stated, "If the Government decides to negotiate, we will change course and the academic year will end normally. This will not happen if the department remains unmoving."
Widespread Demonstrations Across Catalonia
Similar protests are taking place throughout Catalonia. Schools like CEIP Cavall Bernat in Barcelona, Montserrat Solà school in Mataró, and La Pallaresa institute-school in Santa Coloma de Gramenet saw manifestos read at their entrances before classes began. Other centres plan actions during break times or at midday, including moving tables and chairs into the street or forming human chains. In Igualada, for example, organisers called for a packed lunch gathering in the Town Hall square.
Opposition to Police in Schools
The educational community's fight for improved working conditions and school resources recently gained another focus. Many in the sector oppose the deployment of Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, in schools and institutes. The Generalitat announced this measure to "guarantee school coexistence." This morning, around 50 people gathered outside the Joan Sallarès i Pla institute-school in Sabadell. This school is one of the 14 initial centres participating in the Generalitat's pilot plan to host plainclothes police officers.
Upcoming Strike Calendar
The major trade union Ustec, along with Secondary School Teachers, CGT, and Intersindical, called for the protest calendar. It includes three region-wide strikes across the entire education system on 12 May, 27 May, and 5 June. Additionally, a series of localised mobilisations are scheduled across Catalonia, tailored to specific educational stages. Each educational centre will experience five strikes over the coming month, impacting students, parents, and staff across the region.
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Originally published by Ara Cat. Read original article.
