Spain: Widespread support for education strike
Spain’s education unions witnessed a successful general education strike on 24 October – the unions involved were EI’s affiliates, CCOO, FETE-UGT and STEs.
Academic and university activities came to a standstill in the face of repeated attacks on the education system by the Ministry of Education. Eighty three percent of education workers joined the general strike to demand that the Partido Popular government listen to the education community and end its policy of attacking and demolishing education.
Defending education “The education community is making its voice heard once again to defend an education model that guarantees equal opportunities and is under attack from the continual cuts in education; to protest at the loss of rights; to demand that education be a priority for governments; to demand the withdrawal of the LOMCE, the Royal Decree on Grants and study assistance; and to demand an end to the horrendous increases in university fees,” stated a joint trade union press release.
The unions also expressed their appreciation for the commitment shown by families and students, so many of whom showed their support for the strike by leaving classrooms and lecture halls empty in protest at the harmful effects of the LOMCE, which will have a direct impact on the future of young people.
EI solidarity EI has shown its support and solidarity with Spain’s education community in its defence of inclusive, good quality public education, and the teaching profession.
“The reform of the LOMCE can be seen within the context of global education reforms and the restructuring of education systems around the world,” said David Edwards, EI Assistant General Secretary.
“These reforms are transforming the role of the public sector in education and are promoting a type of education that is exacerbating inequalities and holding back social change.”
Edwards added: “In its education policy paper, EI challenges explicitly the narrow, instrumentalist view of education as solely teaching students to become skilled employees.
“EI argues instead for a perspective on education that serves both the values of the society at local and global levels, as well as cultural, democratic, social, economic and environmental needs.”
