Catalan education minister is requested by Junts to clarify the "hidden strategy" in school funding assignments.
Catalonia Faces Crisis in Vocational Training Place Allocation
A significant crisis in the allocation of 57,000 teaching places in Catalonia has arisen due to an error in the education department's process for the upcoming school year. This mistake has affected about 45,000 primary and secondary teachers, leaving them uncertain about their workplaces for the next academic year[1].
The education department has acknowledged "unjustified incidents" and has initiated an investigation. They plan to repeat the allocation process under external supervision, including unions and the Síndic de Greuges (Ombudsman), to ensure transparency[1]. In addition, they aim to debug the IT system before the next attempt.
The unions demand compensation for teachers if the disruption causes losses such as relocation expenses or loss of pay. The situation remains fluid, and if unresolved, it could potentially escalate politically, risking unresolved teacher assignments at the start of the 2025–26 school year[1].
Approximately 15,000 students have not been assigned their places for the next course, despite meeting the registration deadlines[2]. The problem affects 10% of the students who want to take Vocational Training (FP) studies[2].
The PSOE has attributed the climate of tension to the PP and Vox, while Anna Erra, deputy of Junts in the Parliament and spokesperson for Junts in the Education Commission, believes the situation in the Education department is delicate due to the bad management of Minister Esther Niubó[4]. This issue was the first serious problem faced by Minister Niubó after assuming office, and she has been unable to resolve it after a year[4].
Meanwhile, the broader reforms related to vocational training in Spain (including Catalonia) are underway as part of Spain's national recovery and resilience plan[3]. This includes modernizing the vocational education and training (VET) system through investments of over €2 billion aimed at upskilling workers, teacher training, digitalization, and adapting the system to current and future labor market needs[3]. However, these address systemic transformation rather than the immediate allocation crisis in Catalonia.
Elsewhere, Vox has confirmed the expulsion of its spokesperson in the Palencia City Council, and Ciudadanos is criticizing the Supreme Court for forcing them to accuse in the 'Koldo case' under the direction of the PP[5]. Irene Montero, deputy of Podemos, has criticized the government's plan to send food to Gaza by air, but no additional context or facts from the second or third paragraphs were relevant or self-contained in the provided information[5].
Weather reports in Catalonia may face disruptions due to the ongoing crisis in the allocation of teaching places for the upcoming school year, which could potentially affect thousands of students. This political controversy in the education department might also have implications for general news as it remains unsettled before the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Meanwhile, the larger reforms in Spain's vocational education and training system are ongoing, focusing on modernization and upskilling workers, but they do not address the immediate allocation crisis in Catalonia. Additionally, there's ongoing debate about education-and-self-development matters within Spain's political sphere, like the ongoing disputes between various political parties and the Síndic de Greuges (Ombudsman) regarding the management of the education department.
