Pedro Sánchez announces that the Government will promote a law to reduce teaching hours and lower pupil-teacher ratios

Getafe (Madrid)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his visit to the Casa de los Niños municipal nursery school in Getafe (Madrid), together with the Ministers Óscar López and Pilar Alegría (Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

Pedro Sánchez has announced that the Government is going to promote a new law on measures to improve the conditions of teachers, which will set a maximum number of classroom hours for teachers as of the next academic year. In the case of primary education, a maximum of 23 hours will be established, and 18 hours in the case of teachers of secondary education, baccalaureate and other education levels. In addition, the regulation will provide for a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio and a reduction in the bureaucratic burden on teachers.

"In the LOMLOE we promoted a recommendation on teaching hours, and now we are going to promote a law so that it is not a recommendation, but an obligation," he explained.

During his visit to the Casa de los Niños nursery school in Getafe (Madrid), Sánchez also announced that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training is going to set up an aid programme, with a budget of 175 million euros, to guarantee free education for families below the poverty line in the 0-3 age group, starting next year. He also recalled that the Government has already launched the Programme to boost schooling for 0-3 year olds, with more than €600m from the Recovery Plan, with a commitment to reach 60,000 new places by 2027, of which 42,000 are already underway, despite the fact that, he recalled, "it is not the responsibility of the central Government".

"In short," he said. "the Government will continue in its commitment to improve public education", not only with laws and more resources, but also "with a firm commitment to the dignity and institutional, social and economic recognition of all those who work in the educational community."

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his visit to the Casa de los Niños municipal nursery school in Getafe (Madrid), together with the Ministers Óscar López and Pilar Alegría | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

During his appearance before the media, Sánchez highlighted the value of the modernisation of the education system that the Government has carried out since 2018. In this regard, he highlighted the commitment to Vocational Training with 400,000 new places; the investment of 2.5 billion euros in scholarships, which are benefiting one million students, and the approval of laws such as the LOMLOE, the Law on Universities and the Vocational Training Law.

The head of the Executive, who was accompanied on his visit to the Casa de los Niños nursery school by the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, and the Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, recalled that Getafe is "a leading example" in the development of public schools for 0-6 year olds under direct municipal management.

Non official translation