Dalmau warns the opposition: to have “well-paid teachers” it is necessary to approve the budgets
Education budgets increase by 24% and include 100 million for school renovations
BarcelonaStanding in for the Education Minister, Esther Niubó, who is still on medical leave, the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, presented the draft budget for the sector this Tuesday: 8.356 billion euros, representing a 24% increase compared to 2023 and including a 100 million euro fund. The proposed budget for 2026, agreed upon by the PSC and Comuns parties, lacks the essential support of ERC for its approval. In addition to making a strong case for "the country's need" for a new budget, Dalmau urged the political groups "not to miss the opportunity" to approve it so that "teachers are well paid." "For that, we will have to reach an agreement and have a budget," he warned.
The Minister issued this warning to parliamentary groups amidst negotiations with unions to avert another teachers' strike, reminding them that while "there are no magic solutions" to improve the Catalan education system, "agreements must be reached"; not only in the political sphere regarding the budget, but also with teachers "sooner or later." In this regard, Dalmau maintained that the Ministry is working "at full speed" to reach a "historic national agreement" to advance educational matters and address issues such as educational improvement, streamlining the system, improving salaries, and inclusive education.
On February 11, The education sector mobilized massively –more than 70,000 people took to the streets– and, last Friday, the Catalan Ministry of Education confirmed that it had offered teachers a 25% increase in their specific supplement over four years, meaning that by 2030 teachers will earn approximately €2,500 more per year than they currently do. The offer is €1,000 higher thanthe first proposal that the executive put on the table This would mean teachers and professors would receive approximately €180 more gross per month. This offer has not yet convinced the unions – the salary increase is the red line for reaching an agreement – but it has led to a rapprochement between the two sides. In total, Dalmau emphasized, the proposed budget under discussion includes €1.642 billion more than in 2023 (the last year with approved budgets), representing a 24.46% increase. In fact, the Secretary General of the Department, Teresa Sambola, explained that the increase in resources for staff salaries grows by 22%, exceeding €5.3 billion compared to 2023, which allows for more teachers "even in a context of declining student enrollment." With these resources, the Government states that there will be 4,162 more teachers in the system than in 2023.
Fund to expand and improve centers
The regional minister explained that the Government plans to allocate €333 million to the modernization of educational centers, including approximately €41 million for the construction of 21 new schools and institutes and €8 million for digital transformation. Dalmau highlighted that €100 million will be allocated to a new fund, Actualitza Escola (School Update), which will finance the renovation, expansion, and improvement of municipally owned preschool, primary, and special education centers. The program will consist of two lines of funding. The first will have a maximum budget of €58.5 million and will allow municipalities to request amounts between €10,000 and €2.2 million, depending on the number of students enrolled in these centers in each municipality. The second funding line will have a maximum budget of €41.5 million and will be directed towards public schools built or renovated entirely before 2007, with a fixed contribution of €37,300 per building. Regarding educational improvement and equity, the budget allocates €639 million: €162 million for nursery school funding, €253 million for school meal and transportation services, and €42 million for skills development. An additional €376 million is earmarked for inclusive education, through initiatives such as training (€50 million), specialized professionals (€182 million), educational support staff (€69 million), and reception classrooms (€75 million). For vocational training, €672 million is allocated to initiatives such as improving continuity of training (€27.5 million), increasing the number of vocational training teachers (€19.8 million), and strengthening dual vocational training (€1.8 million).