All public schools in the Balearic Islands will have a school canteen this academic year

PalmaThe Minister of Education and Universities, Antoni Vera, has announced that all public educational centers in the Balearic Islands will have a school canteen service this academic year. The measure is part of the new features that the Ministry plans for the start of the school year (September 10), along with new infrastructures, changes in the coverage of teaching positions, and the start of negotiations for the new Educational Commitment 2027-2031.

Vera has highlighted the effort made during this legislative term to expand the network of school canteens. As he explained, the Ministry has launched 35 new services in four years, especially in centers that until now did not have them despite having students with significant needs. Among the examples, he cited the CEIP La Soledat. "It is a crucial service, not only for work-life balance, but to assist vulnerable students, who often need our help," the minister affirmed. In parallel, the Department of Education is planning new infrastructure projects. Vera mentioned the expansion of CEIP Sant Marçal, IES Ses Estacions, the new CIFP in Ciutadella, the expansion of IES Marc Ferrer, and the new gymnasium at CEIP Can Misses.

Regarding teaching positions, the minister gave a positive assessment of the staffing coverage ahead of the start of the school year. "We can be pleased because the majority of positions have been covered. We do not have uncovered positions," he assured. However, he admitted that there are still some specialties that could not be covered, especially in Ibiza and Menorca. On the other hand, according to Vera, in Formentera, all positions have been covered. The school year will also incorporate new centers with musical education. In Mallorca, CEIP Cas Saboners will offer this, while in Menorca, CEIP Joan Alemany will be incorporated, and in Ibiza, CEIP Poeta Villangómez.

Negotiations underway

Vera also took stock of the Educational Framework Agreement signed during the previous legislature. The minister assured that the Government has been fulfilling the foreseen commitments and that some sections still remain to be deployed. Among those pending, he pointed out the tutoring supplements, the paid sabbatical year, and the equality plan. "More than 90% has already been fulfilled," stated Vera.

The minister announced, at the same time, the start of the negotiation calendar for the 2027-2031 Educational Commitment. The Ministry's intention is for the new agreement not to focus solely on salary issues, but to incorporate measures that affect the entire educational system. "They must be global educational measures, not just economic ones, and they must involve the entire educational community," defended Vera.

Among the issues that the Department of Education wants to address are the difficulties in accessing housing faced by teachers assigned to Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. In the latter case, the minister explained that progress is already being made in the construction of new housing intended for teaching staff. Mobility between islands will be another of the matters that the Ministry wants to negotiate with the unions. Vera considers that the multi-island nature of the Balearic Islands creates an added difficulty for teachers who have to change residence to fill a position. "What we do not want is for there to be resignations during the first months of the change of island because the distance is too costly," he explained.

The new agreement will also have to address educational mentoring. The Department of Education's proposal is to establish a system so that teachers joining the system can have the accompaniment of an experienced teacher. Finally, Vera has proposed gradually recovering the extraordinary payments for teachers. The Ministry's proposal is to negotiate a schedule that allows for their full recovery between 2027 and 2031. "It cannot be all at once, but between 2027 and 2031. It is a matter of justice," he concluded.