A conflict is escalating in Catalonia between school leaders, unions, and authorities over changes to the teacher hiring system. New government measures directly affect the autonomy of educational institutions and raise concerns about the future quality of education. For Spaniards, this could mean changes in how schools operate, potentially impacting children and the entire regional education system.
As El Pais reports, school leaders feel their interests are unprotected by both the unions and the government. After an agreement was signed between CC OO, UGT, and the Catalan government, schools lost a key right—the ability to select teachers based on professional profile and competencies. This decision overturns the provisions of Decree 39/2014, which allowed principals to form teaching teams aligned with the specific educational projects of their schools.
Limits on independence
Under the new agreements, the number of so-called ‘profiled’ vacancies has been reduced from more than 7,000 to 2,500—just 3% of the total. School leaders and the Clam educatiu association believe this change will make it harder to recruit specialists for unique educational programs, such as teaching math in English or developing music projects. They call the authorities’ actions a ‘concession’ to the unions and point out the contradiction with the Catalonian education law.
Representatives of Clam educatiu and the Axia association, which brings together around 400 principals, spoke in parliament criticizing the new rules. In their view, the decision was made under pressure from the upcoming elections, as unions have significant electoral influence. School leaders are concerned that, after the new vacancies are allocated, it will be virtually impossible to return to previous regulations, and that teachers unfamiliar with their educational projects may be hired.
Response and Protests
The Axia association has already filed an official complaint against the new procedure, calling it a step backwards for school autonomy. If the authorities refuse to review the decision, a court appeal is not ruled out. At the same time, Clam educatiu representatives stress that they support transparency and oversight in teacher recruitment, but believe that existing mechanisms already provide the necessary level of control. They insist that isolated violations should not be grounds to abolish the entire system.
Amid growing discontent, school principals feel pressure from both unions and the administration. They say they constantly have to justify themselves and prove their integrity. In Barcelona and other regions of Catalonia, possible protest measures are being discussed, including collective resignations at the end of the school year. A final decision on actions will be made in the coming weeks.
Unions’ and Parents’ Position
Trade unions, in turn, are also preparing protest actions against the education pact. The Ustec organization is surveying teachers to gauge their readiness to strike, including the possibility of an indefinite walkout. In the near future, the unions plan to announce joint actions, demanding salary increases and further improvements in working conditions.
Parents of students have also joined the push for support. After the Department of Education circulated a newsletter explaining the details of the agreement, teachers prepared their own version, highlighting the lack of resources and potential issues at the start of the next academic year. According to them, cutting specialized positions will lead to a shortage of professionals and overburden schools.
Context and consequences
In recent years, Catalonia has repeatedly seen disputes over school autonomy and the role of trade unions in education policy. Such conflicts have already led to mass strikes and temporary disruptions in school operations. In 2023, similar protests emerged after attempts to change the teacher assignment system, sparking discontent among educators and parents. Tensions have risen once again, and the further development of events could impact the region’s entire education system.
