The teachers of IES Biel Martí also explode against the cutbacks: "It is easy to despair"

PalmaThe assembly of teachers from IES Biel Martí (Ferreries) has made public a statement denouncing the "growing degradation of working conditions" in public educational centers in the Balearic Islands. The teaching staff warns that teacher cutbacks and the lack of resources force the faculty to assume extraordinary tasks to maintain educational attention, demands "fewer cutbacks and more resources," and does not rule out mobilizations in September if the situation does not improve. The complaint joins those also made public by the institutes of Portocristo and Sa Blanca Dona, in Ibiza, which have warned of teacher cutbacks and the disappearance of some subjects.

Teachers explain that, in the face of cutbacks, they often take on more responsibilities than they should. As an example, they point out that this academic year they have internally approved the creation of an additional 2nd year of ESO group through a PIE to prevent classrooms from reaching 28 students. "This year we voted to create a PIE (add an extra group internally) to avoid having groups of 28 students in the 2nd year of ESO. Last year we also had to do it, just like other years before," they explain.

According to their complaints, this decision, as well as maintaining two lines of baccalaureate, is financed with quota hours that should be allocated to other needs of the center. "We do all this at the expense of quota hours that should currently allow us to support projects, coordination, supervision, flexible grouping, and educational attention measures," they lament. Furthermore, they recall that this academic year "we have already had to do voluntary playground and library supervision because the hours weren't adding up" and they assure that the management team has warned them that the situation "persists and has even worsened."

The teaching staff argues that these efforts are made by prioritizing students. "We make all these efforts because our students are the main beneficiaries and we are concerned about their well-being," they state, while reproaching that this concern "does not keep our Ministry of Education awake at night."

Overflowing classrooms

The assembly also warns of the predicted overcrowding in 4th year of ESO. They explain that they have unsuccessfully requested an additional group and that, if there are no changes, "next year we will have two ordinary groups of 29 students each, and they could be more throughout the year". The teachers recall that Biel Martí is a "single center" and, therefore, must enroll all students who request it, regardless of the available places.

This situation, they add, is aggravated by the high number of students with specific educational support needs (NESE) and newly arrived students. "With adequate resources it would already be a difficult task; it is always a challenge to attend to the diversity of the classroom. Imagine, then, when these resources are lacking. How can we be an inclusive and quality school? It is easy to despair," they state.

The statement also denounces the lack of space at the center, a problem they describe as "chronic." As they explain, the shortage of classrooms forces the auditorium, library, or laboratories to be converted into teaching spaces, while high school students do not have a reference classroom and have to change classes every hour. They also assure that the management team is "completely exhausted from having to deal with all these problems on a daily basis."

Finally, the teachers warn that if there is no response from the Administration, September could be "the time to stand up and mobilize to demand improvements." Meanwhile, they assure that all they can do is "express our anger and exhaustion through the media," with the aim that "families are aware of how strained the centers in these islands are."