CCOO demands the expansion of school cafeterias up to the 4th year of ESO (secondary school) and a reduction in student-teacher ratios for preschool.

PalmThe CCOO Teaching Federation in the Balearic Islands has urged the Government to extend the school lunch service up to the 4th year of ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) to guarantee, at a minimum, one meal a day for all students. The union also demands that, in the 0-2 age group, the ratios be one educator for every four or five children. These demands come after the Ministry of Education and Universities presented the draft of the new decree that will regulate school cafeterias, a document that will be taken to the Participation Committee next week. In a statement, CCOO expressed its "outright rejection" of the Government's proposal, which it considers "unfeasible, disconnected from the educational reality, and failing to incorporate the demands of the sector, unions, social organizations, and families." The union also regrets that the Regional Ministry did not consult "the sector's largest union" and that the text was drafted "without regard for the needs" of the workers.

One of the points the union considers "especially serious" is the planned ratios for the 0-3 age group: one educator for every seven 1-year-olds; one for every twelve 2-year-olds; and one for every fifteen 3-year-olds. According to CCOO, these figures are "completely impractical" and "do not guarantee either safety or educational quality," especially during lunchtime, which requires individualized attention and a high level of physical and emotional support.

Too few hands

The union points out that children in the first cycle "have a low level of autonomy" and considers it "irresponsible" to suggest that a single educator can simultaneously attend to seven one-year-olds who cannot yet manage textures, chew, or sit up unaided. CCOO also criticizes the document for "ignoring" expert recommendations, pedagogical research, and the daily practices of schools. Although the preamble recognizes the cafeteria as an "educational service," the union believes the decree "empties it of pedagogical content," since it "does not require adequate qualifications" in Early Childhood Education for non-teaching staff and treats the service as "a merely logistical and support resource." According to the union, this is compounded by a contradiction with the LOMLOE (Organic Law for the Improvement of the Education System) and the 2022 Balearic Islands Education Law, which recognize the cafeteria as an educational space where habits, autonomy, social interaction, and health education are developed. Another point of disagreement is the exclusion of secondary school students. The union denounces that the proposal "does not include a cafeteria or guaranteed scholarships up to age 16." They point out that the text limits the service to preschool and primary school students and only defines cafeteria criteria for secondary school students, without the obligation to offer a complete meal. "This leaves out students aged 12 to 16, including the most vulnerable and those in schools with high levels of need," they warn. CCOO concludes that the decree "does not reduce student-teacher ratios, does not regulate minimum standards of educational quality, does not address working conditions or staff training, does not ensure sufficient funding, and does not guarantee equity." For all these reasons, the union demands the start of a "real" negotiation process, with effective participation from the sector and appropriate pedagogical criteria. It also demands the presence of early childhood education specialists in the cafeterias, formal recognition of this space as educational, and improved funding and working conditions for staff.