L'ARA interviews Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for USTEC, a few hours before the general strike in the Catalan education sector begins and after the controversies over the infiltration of two Mossos d'Esquadra agents at a teachers' assembly and the pilot test that plans to integrate an undercover agent in some centers to improve coexistence.

Notable news in the university entrance exams that will be held next month: for the first time, detectors will be used to prevent students from cheating on the PAU using electronic devices. As explained in a circular from the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia, which has been sent to the institutes, in the exams to be held on June 9, 10, and 11, "the organization may use electronic device detectors during the test."

Important change in the awarding of teaching positions for the next academic year. The Department of Education has modified the resolution that set the criteria for determining the distribution of vacant positions in schools and institutes among teachers and professors for the 2026-2027 academic year. As ARA has been able to confirm, the novelty is that, unlike what was specified in the initial resolution, next academic year principals will be able to make continuity proposals for interim teachers. That is, a principal can propose that an interim teacher who is already at their school can continue teaching in the same school or institute for the next academic year.

First confirmations from the Government regarding educational centers that have requested to withdraw from the pilot plan that contemplated sending a plainclothes Mossos d'Esquadra officer to the centers to improve coexistence. Sources from the Department of Education have confirmed that the ministry has received the formal request from two centers not to participate in the pilot project for school coexistence. They are a center in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat and another in Tàrrega. In parallel, however, the ministry has informed that the pilot plan will add a new center in Baix Llobregat that has asked the Government to join. Therefore, despite criticism of the measure and requests from some faculty meetings to abandon the plan, at this time the program will go from having 14 centers to having 13 participants.

One month after resigning as director general of Concerted and Private Centers for personal reasons, Xavier Güell has been hired as an advisor to President Salvador Illa. As stated in this Wednesday's Official Gazette of the Generalitat (DOGC), Güell has been appointed "advisor to the president on messaging," a position attached to the Directorate General of Strategy, Analysis and Prospecting, which falls under the Department of the Presidency.

The Margarida Xirgu institute in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has requested to withdraw from the Education and Interior plan that includes integrating an undercover police officer at the center, as confirmed by sources from the center and unions to ARA. The move was announced by CUP in the Parliament plenary session this Wednesday, although, for the moment, the Department of Education has not confirmed the step.

The Margarida Xirgu Institute in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has requested to withdraw from the plan by Education and Interior that foresees the integration of an undercover police officer in schools, as confirmed by center and union sources to ARA. The move was announced by the CUP in the plenary session of the Parliament this Wednesday, stating that a school in the municipality had requested to withdraw from the pilot program. For now, however, the Department of Education has not confirmed the step. In the same vein, sources from USTEC – the majority union in the education sector – also point out that some schools in Vic have also informed Educational Inspection that they wish to stop being part of the pilot program.

The aptitude test scores for aspiring teachers (PAP) are falling again. Only 54.5% of the students who applied this year to access a university degree in early childhood or primary education have passed. That is, almost half of the applicants (45.5%) have failed the test, which since last year is once again mandatory in all universities –public and private– to graduate with a degree that allows one to be a teacher. The figure is 4 points lower than last year's edition, when 58% of applicants passed the exams. In fact, this will be the fourth consecutive year that the proportion of those who pass this test does not reach 60%.

Fundesplai is already feeling the consequences of the decision by more than 500 schools and institutes not to hold camp activities next academic year as a protest measure against the agreement that the Department of Education signed with CCOO and UGT, but not with Ustec, the majority union. This Tuesday, the president of Fundesplai, Núria Valls, warned that the entity currently has 70% fewer bookings for camp houses for the next academic year compared to last year. Furthermore, she warned that this drop in bookings also jeopardizes up to 310 jobs.

The Government defends the pilot plan that foresees integrating a police officer into fourteen educational centers in Catalonia to carry out prevention tasks and improve coexistence. This Tuesday, five days after the measure came to light, the Department of Education has presented the pilot plan for school coexistence in the area of prevention and mediation and has provided some details. Although the department has asked for calm and assured that "the plan has just begun and that time is needed to build the agent's [of the Mossos d'Esquadra] work in the centers", they have been firm in clarifying the situation that has motivated this trial: "It does not respond to an emergency but is a structural and support preventive need," they explained from the ministry led by Esther Niubó.

"Do you want to succeed? All you need is attitude, effort, and discipline," says a young man enthusiastically. "I had to stop studying to work," replies a companion. "I have to take care of my five siblings," responds another young woman. "I don't have papers and, therefore, I can't do internships," comments another. The scene is a sketch performed by the theater group of the Xamfrà entity, but it highlights a constant reality among the students in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona: You can't always do what you want.

Esmeralda has been taking her children to the Eugeni d'Ors institute in Hospitalet de Llobregat for 25 years, one of the centers that will integrate an undercover police officer as part of the pilot plan that the Government wants to test in 13 schools and institutes to "improve coexistence". Through her children, she has seen how the atmosphere of the center has changed over the last two decades. It is Monday, a few minutes before half past one, and she waits while waiting for Aliana, the youngest, to come out in La Sènia square, which at this hour is almost deserted. In a few minutes, the hustle and bustle invades the street: hundreds of teenagers leave – in a rather disorderly manner – through a single door.

The Mossos d'Esquadra are investigating a case of sexual violence in a school in Torelló, in the Osona region. The child's parents filed the complaint this Tuesday, April 21. Specifically, according to sources consulted by ARA, the person being investigated is a worker at the center who is not part of the teaching staff. The complaint would be for a sexual assault on a minor.

The pilot plan to place an undercover police officer in thirteen educational centers in Catalonia continues to generate controversy. While awaiting an official presentation of the plan, teachers –both those who will experience this trial in their center and those who will not– are receiving information piecemeal, despite the measure set to be implemented this very Monday.

Catalonia will test a new strategy to address coexistence problems in some schools and institutes: Mossos d'Esquadra officers will be deployed undercover in various educational centers. The move is part of a pilot plan that will be activated this April in thirteen centers to test a new collaboration model between the departments of Education and Interior, as reported by El País and confirmed by ARA.

The third building on the grounds of the old Fish Market will be dedicated to research to diagnose and, above all, find solutions to society's challenges. ThThe rector of Pompeu has insisted that the new project is presented as a do tank

The Government "is working" so that the first salary increase for teachers contemplated in the agreement between UGT and CCOO becomes a reality in May. Sources from the Department of Education confirm that they are working within these deadlines, but they avoid assuring whether it will finally be possible for teachers and professors to receive the 800 euros salary increase next month, which would correspond to the 30% increase in the agreed specific complement. The salary increase is one of the points of the agreement that the department led by Esther Niubó signed a few weeks ago with the two unions, but without the support of USTEC, the majority union in the Catalan education sector.

New chapter in the tug-of-war between teachers and the Government. This Tuesday, the majority union in the education sector, Ustec, has made public the results of the survey it sent to all teachers and professors, asking what the next steps should be to mobilize against the agreement signed between the Government, CCOO, and UGT, and without the approval of Ustec, Profesores de Secundaria, CGT, and La Intersindical. In this survey —also promoted by CGT and La Intersindical—, which was sent to all teachers' emails, three questions were asked: if they are willing to have "more strikes", how many days of strike they would have – with options ranging from one day to more than ten – and what type of strike they would prefer. The survey was answered by 31,600 teachers, and of these, 90% have stated that they "commit" to continue striking. That is, about 28,000 teachers are in favor of continuing to mobilize.

One month after the Government signed an improvement in conditions for teachers and the situation in classrooms with CCOO and UGT – but not with the rest of the unions or with USTEC, which is the majority – the agreement continues to cause repercussions. This Tuesday USTEC sent all teachers a new email to ask again if it is necessary to continue with the mobilizations. Just as the union did in the last strikes that achieved massive support, USTEC has decided to leave the next steps in the hands of the collective. In this way, they ask teachers three questions: if they are willing to go on "more strikes", how many days of strike they would go on – with options between one day and more than 10 – and what type of strike they would prefer.

Consecutive strike calls, follow-ups of more than 30%, teacher closures in institutes, massive demonstrations and even some resignations. But, also, several agreements and pre-agreements. This is the scenario that the education sector in Spain has experienced in the last year. In fact, since the beginning of the school year, up to twelve autonomous communities have registered some teacher strike call, with more or less adherence. The last one was this very week in Madrid, where early childhood education teachers have called an indefinite strike that has already lasted four days.