Ahead of the elections in Extremadura, the Socialists have placed education at the center of their campaign. Miguel Ángel Gallardo, the PSOE candidate, announced his intention to make education the top priority if voters entrust him with leading the region. According to him, in recent years, public schools and kindergartens have come under threat due to decisions made by the current government.
Gallardo accused the current administration, led by María Guardiola, of dealing a serious blow to education accessibility. He recalled that one of the first measures taken was to end free school meals and cancel free childcare services—a move he believes has made life more difficult for many families and complicated the balance between work and parenting.
Problems in schools
The Socialist candidate highlighted the challenges faced by teachers and parents in recent months. He noted that during the current legislature, issues have arisen with recruitment processes for educators, and the quality of childcare services has declined. The situation, he said, has been particularly acute in rural areas, where at the start of the school year, around 7,000 students were left without school transportation due to disagreements between regional authorities and transport companies over contract costs.
Gallardo believes these decisions reflect a strategy aimed at weakening public schools and supporting the private sector. As an example, he cited the introduction of education vouchers and subsidies for language academies, which he says increase inequality between urban and rural areas, as they primarily benefit residents of larger towns.
Socialist Plans
In response to these challenges, the PSOE has put forward a series of initiatives that, according to Gallardo, will help restore trust in the education system. Key pledges include reinstating free school meals and preschool groups, as well as expanding access to early childhood education for children aged 0 to 3. The Socialists plan to create 3,000 new places in public preschools, giving special attention to rural areas.
Another significant part of the program focuses on supporting teachers. Gallardo promised to secure salary increases for the region’s 16,200 educators — starting January 1, 2026, their wages are set to rise by 200 euros a month. In addition, the plan aims to improve opportunities for professional development in the education sector.
Curriculum Update
Among the proposals put forward by Gallardo’s team is a revision of the school curriculum. In particular, they want to introduce robotics and artificial intelligence into the learning process, as well as increase the number of inclusive classrooms for children with special needs. According to the candidate, these measures will help prepare students for modern challenges and make education fairer for everyone.
Gallardo also commented on the results of opinion polls, which are not always favorable for his party. He stressed that the only opinion that truly matters is the vote on December 21. In addition, the candidate expressed bewilderment at María Guarjola’s refusal to participate in the regional television debates, viewing it as a sign that opponents lack a clear program. He stated his readiness to meet the PP leader face-to-face before election day.
