Spain will reform the law to prevent convicted harassers from teaching

The Council of Ministers plans to soon approve an expansion of the child protection law with the aim that individuals convicted of harassment, as is the case with Miquel Roldán, cannot work in the educational field again. This was announced this Thursday in Palma by the Minister of Childhood and Youth, Sira Rego, after meeting with the President of the Govern, Marga Prohens, in a meeting where, among other issues, the case of the convicted teacher who this week joined a school in the city was discussed.

The reform plans to modify Article 57 of the regulations to include a harassment conviction as a cause for disqualification from working in jobs that involve regular contact with minors. As both leaders have detailed, although the meeting was mainly focused on the management of migrant children and protection systems, this specific situation was also addressed. Prohens thanked the Ministry for its willingness and emphasized the need for this legal change.

CEIP Son Pisà, stalled

One of the teachers who could be affected by the measure is Miquel Roldán. The school council of CEIP Son Pisà in Palma held an extraordinary meeting this Thursday with the inspector to address the new situation arising from the arrival of Miquel Roldán, a teacher convicted of harassing minors. All of this occurs in a context where families have initiated a strike and this Thursday 60% of the student body did not attend class, which represents approximately 300 students out of a total of 500. The situation has also coincided with the suspension of the Sant Jordi festival and a significant alteration of the center's usual functioning.

Outside, dozens of families have waited to learn the conclusions of the meeting, in an atmosphere of nervousness and with some confusion surrounding the details of the case. Some erroneous information has circulated among those present, but it should be remembered that the teacher was convicted of harassing minors, not sexual harassment, as stated in the graffiti that has appeared around the center.

The meeting was attended by the inspector of education and was convened with the aim of conveying the situation of unease expressed by students and families. The school council has agreed to draft a letter addressed to the Ministry of Education to detail the facts and concerns identified. Psychological attention has also been requested for the students, some of whom have been said to be afraid.

Roldán can do work

During the meeting, the situation related to Roldán was brought up, with insistence that he meets the legal requirements to teach. Inspection indicated that extraordinary measures cannot be applied, as there is no current administrative restriction that allows it.

Nevertheless, the families' concerns were conveyed to the inspector, among which the need for psychological support for both students and affected families stands out. The inspector has collected all requests and has committed to forwarding them to the Ministry of Education. In parallel, this same morning, the director general was contacted again with the aim of expediting and scheduling the meeting requested by the school as soon as possible. The school has also consulted with Inspection regarding the planning for the coming days and is awaiting a response to determine the development of educational activities.