Teachers and families filled the streets of Valencia, demanding urgent improvements to public education. The protest targeted the regional education chief and revived the threat of renewed strikes as negotiations remained stalled.
Thousands of teachers and supporters marched through central Valencia, demanding the resignation of Carme Ortí, the regional education chief, and warning that strikes could return if talks do not resume. One of the largest demonstrations since last term’s five-week strike, it showed that the dispute over public education in the Comunitat Valenciana remains unresolved.
The basic unions, STEPV, CCOO, UGT and CGT, organized the protest under the Platforma per l’Ensenyament Públic. Marches also took place in Alicante and Castellón, as teachers signaled they were ready to escalate their campaign for what they describe as a "dignified and quality" public education system. Union leaders said another strike remained possible, depending on the government’s response. The protest on September 12, 2026, was coordinated across all three provincial capitals. Participants said their efforts would continue if their demands were not met. At the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the Valencian education system had around 84,000 teachers and more than 808,000 students.
The basic demands are smaller class sizes, better pay, and more staff. Teachers say the regional government has failed to deliver real improvements, even after last term’s indefinite strike was suspended. "We are tired, but we cannot stop fighting for our rights and for public education," said one secondary school teacher. Many wore green shirts and vests reading "Docent treballant en precari." Infobae and Levante-EMV reported that banners at the front of the Valencia march specifically called for Carme Ortí’s resignation. The demonstration began at Plaza de San Agustín around 18:00 and wound through the city center.
Educators, families, civic groups, and political representatives joined the crowd. Chants against cuts in health and education, along with calls for quality education in Valencian, echoed along the route. The unions insist that teachers themselves must approve any new agreement, rather than having it imposed from above. Ara and Cadena SER reported that STEPV, CCOO and UGT have repeatedly said partial measures, such as reducing bureaucracy, are not enough. They want real progress on class sizes, pay, and staffing before any deal is reached.
Union leaders criticized the government’s lack of progress since the strike ended. Marc Candela of STEPV said officials had addressed only bureaucratic reductions, while core issues such as staffing and pay remain unresolved. Xelo Valls of CCOO called the protest a starting point for further action. UGT’s Kilian Cuerda accused the Generalitat of wasting the summer break instead of reaching an agreement. EFE reported that only 87% of teachers supported a partial agreement on reducing bureaucracy. Basic union demands remain unresolved, and the threat of renewed strikes loomed as the new school year began.
The standoff in Valencia reflects a wider pattern. Public education is under strain across Spain, as shown by the recent funding crisis in Andalusian universities. Regional governments are struggling to meet educators’ demands as teachers and families speak out more about worsening conditions.
In Valencia, the unions are ready to strike again if talks stall. The government’s next move will determine whether classrooms stay open or face new disruptions. Teachers are not backing down, and pressure on Carme Ortí and her administration is growing. The dispute points to broader unrest in Spain’s education system. If officials continue to ignore teachers’ basic demands, they risk further disruption and a loss of public trust in regional leadership.
