The Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Esther Niubó, starts the new school year with a strike and with Catalonia excluded from the PISA report. In this interview, she proposes opening a stage of “construction” with the unions and promoting spaces for dialogue with the community on aspects of the system, such as inclusive schooling or immigration, and pedagogical issues: “If a child does not read in 3rd grade of Primary, what do we have to do?”.
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Strike
”We want to debate and negotiate, but it is important that the unions change their tone”
We start a school year with a strike. Do you foresee another cycle of protests like last year?
The Government always has the will to dialogue and to work to keep moving forward. The improvements we have introduced this year can help build trust. Perhaps not all centers see them, they are not quick changes. But they are important steps. We would like to move from a state of tension to a constructive, calm debate about education.
Inclusive schooling, school segregation, excellence, and other challenges such as teacher training, artificial intelligence. They will require the commitment of many parties, not just the Government. And the support of resources.
How will the Government guarantee the right to protest, education, and mobility?
Hopefully there will be no impact on mobility, or that it will be minimal. Here we are somewhat playing with the coexistence of the whole society and, therefore, this government must be able to guarantee that all rights are balanced.
Student performance
In November we will present results and see green shoots”
Will Education have a bigger budget?
It has increased by 25%, but if we want more excellence and equity it must be increased. Although not everything is resources. The inclusive decree will turn 10 years old: it is time to take stock and agree on what we want in the future.
Secondary teachers ask for the repeal of that decree. Would you agree with this?
No, we do not believe in repeal. The system must be inclusive and guarantee equal opportunities. But the emphasis should not be placed only on being inclusive. A public conversation is needed.
This also happens in other debates. We can think about whether support for an outsider student ends when the welcome classroom finishes, or consider whether a student who arrives at ESO can spend four months learning the language before integrating into the course. In these debates, we are not only playing with language proficiency, we are playing with integration and social cohesion.
Do you think the unions will change the fight for dialogue?
It would be important to change the tone to move forward, because they really face a government that has expressed not only the will to advance but has objectively done so. It is also true that there has been a legitimacy crisis in the representation spaces.
PISA Report
“The error discredits the Catalan education system: it cannot happen again”
At this week’s meeting, there were not only unions with representation at the table, there were other unions and members of the teaching assembly. Negotiating, from the traditional point of view, becomes very complex.
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Educational results
“In November we will present the system evaluation and see green shoots”
How is the review of the inclusive policy planned?
When the decree was published there was a general consensus. It is true that there was no budget allocation, which has been provided later, but it is necessary to review it. Very likely, in the future, all ordinary centers will have intensive support units, classroom aids for students with mild needs, and special education centers for students with severe dependencies.
The system must work by providing the maximum opportunities for progress for all. But that requires dialogue with the community and with other areas of health, social rights. And there is a very important voice that has been little taken into account: that of families.
When will improvements in student performance begin to be seen?
In November we will present the results of the system evaluations. I think we will start to see some green shoots. The intensive language and math programs that have been running for two years should start to show results. It is early, but we expect some change.
Public conversation
“What happens to the student who does not read well when finishing 3rd grade? Let’s debate without preconceptions”
Will any more lines of action be opened?
With the early detection program for learning difficulties, we get figures that we must evaluate. Without reading comprehension, it is difficult to acquire other skills.
This year we have reinforced the centers, recovered libraries, increased teachers in 3rd and 4th grade of Primary, key grades. We must open debates to society about what happens when a boy or girl, at the end of 3rd grade, does not read well? We cannot condemn them to failure if we do not act. That is what we have to talk about, without preconceptions.
In PISA you state there were management errors. Was there no intent or will to hide?
I cannot affirm, with the information we have, that there was any kind of will to hide and of course, from a political point of view, absolutely not. We have put measures in place so that this does not happen again.
Are you worried that many more students than usual were excluded?
Let’s wait for the final file to address this issue. But the problem was a lack of precise information and support. Such a disproportionate exemption rate should have no place in an education system like ours because all this has affected the prestige of the Catalan education system. I assume responsibility as minister.
Did you ever think about resigning?
These decisions are personal. First you have to face it, give explanations and then make decisions to prevent it from happening again. You don’t abandon ship when there are problems.
Have you felt betrayed by people in your department?
Betrayal, no. Maybe other things that are not positive either. There is a point of disappointment, not with the people themselves, but with the system. Last year we already had a significant incident related to assignments, which this year, fortunately, we have reversed and improved. Education in Catalonia, in the 21st century, should not work like this.
What do you expect from this school year?
I would like to reduce the dropout rate and improve educational success. Also achieve good conditions for teachers in the classroom, not only in resources, but in well-being and to recover pride in their work. And I hope the work environment improves.
