Teachers require more investment in Education in OE2027

Steachers' indicators today defended a greater investment in education and concrete measures to enhance the teaching career, with Fenprof even considering that the government proposal is “a budgetary farce” that does not meet the needs.

“The government confuses the fulfilment of commitments with new investment, presents nominal increases as if they were a big stake in Education and does not assume the ambition necessary to transform the educational system,” says the National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof).

The proposal for a State Budget for 2027 (OE2027) was handed over to Parliament on Thursday and to the Education sector, the government provides a budget of €7.787,9 million, which represents a 1.5% increase compared to last year.

For teachers’ representatives, however, this is an insufficient increase which, by applying executive inflation (2.3%), “real growth” is only 0.8%.

“A significant part of this increase is intended for commitments already made,” writes Fenprof, in a press release, referring as examples the last tranche of the recovery of working time, the payment of overtime or travel support.

Recognizing that they are necessary measures, the federation insists that “to fulfil commitments is not to make new investment, nor can it be presented as a new policy of professional valorization”.

Fenprof also points to the reduction of the funds earmarked for the purchase of goods and services for public schools, while the allocation for private and cooperative education increases 4.9% compared to the previous year.

“This OE2027 is a budgetary farce with regard to responding to the needs of public schools”, they consider, defending the need for a structural policy that responds to the lack of teachers and to the degradation of working conditions.

Not so harsh in the criticisms of the Government's proposal, the National Federation of Education (FNE) has today argued that education should be a national priority and that this option implies the strengthening of public investment and the appreciation of professionals.

“The State Budget is the financial expression of the government’s political options and, therefore, must clearly and unequivocally demonstrate the importance attached to Education,” he adds.

In a statement, the FNE identifies a set of priorities that it wants to see in the OE2027, such as the correction of career overruns, the wage valuation and the improvement of teachers' working conditions.

In addition to teachers, it also advocates the appreciation of all school workers, the strengthening of educational teams and the guarantee of the human and material resources needed to meet the challenges.

The OE2027 proposal will be discussed and voted on in general between 27 and 28 October. The overall final vote is scheduled for November 24, after the discussion process in the specialty.