Barcelona, 15 September 2026, Teachers' unions are demanding a concrete timeline from Catalan President Salvador Illa on key education commitments, expressing deep distrust over promises to increase funding to 6% of GDP and climate-control 2,530 public schools by 2031. The criticism emerged as Illa marked the halfway point of his term, facing mounting pressure from educators ahead of a turbulent academic year.

USTEC, the main union for public school staff, acknowledged the Catalan Education Council as a valid space for debate but warned it must not replace direct negotiations. The council, which includes representatives from both public and private education sectors, could allow private school interests to block measures on class sizes, inclusive education, and infrastructure, the union said. It called for a separate negotiation forum dedicated exclusively to public education, with participation from workers, families, students, and other stakeholders.

The pledge to invest 6% of GDP in education has been part of Catalan law since 2009 but remains unfulfilled. USTEC stressed that announcing the goal without a binding schedule amounts to no commitment. Investment in non-university education has consistently hovered around 4%, often slightly below.

Announcing 6% without setting a date is not making any commitment.

CGT, another critical union, accused the government of missing its chance to act when finalising recent budgets. Laura Gené, general secretary of CGT Ensenyament, said the executive fell far short of the legal target and dismissed the announcements as political propaganda ahead of municipal elections.

Intersindical echoed the scepticism, pointing out that Illa’s plan to climate-control 100 schools before 2028 was previously promised for 2027, indicating a delay. Spokesperson Marc Martorell said:

I won't believe it until I see a timeline.

He criticised the government’s reliance on the Education Council, noting that past recommendations to reduce class sizes were ignored, while curriculum cuts were swiftly adopted.

Political Reactions Mixed

Opposition parties have also weighed in. Junts accused Illa of masking two years of failures with decade-long promises, while the PSC defended the government’s agenda. Esquerra Republicana welcomed the adoption of its long-standing call for a national education pact but criticised Illa’s self-congratulatory tone. The Comuns urged faster action on school climate control.

The PP used the moment to renew its push against linguistic immersion, demanding compliance with court rulings that could increase Spanish-language instruction in schools upon family request.

Call for Action

CCOO, which has signed two agreements with the government, joined the call for the executive to move from words to action. Unions warn that without a clear roadmap and dedicated negotiation channels, further industrial action could be imminent before the end of the term.

Reported by elmon.cat.