Nail 5,000 people —according to data provided by the Government Delegation— of the educational community, families and students, even from the municipalities most affected by the flood such as Paiporta, Albal, Catarroja or Alfafar, walked this afternoon through the streets of the centre of Valencia, from Plaza de San Agustín in Plaza de la Virgen, to denounce the “Bad and disorganized management“of the Department of Education and Generalitat faced with the serious consequences of DANA, which left almost a hundred schools affected, and to demand that “the use of Valencian as a vehicular language“.
“Rovira and Mazón, resignation”, “Escoles sense fang” or “La llengua no es tapa” were some of the slogans that were heard during the entire demonstration called by Platform in Defense of Public Educationwhich includes the majority associations and trade unions in the education sector. “We criticize the disastrous management of Dana, the abandonment that the educational community has suffered of the affected centers and ask for the suspension of consultation with families on the basic language of the so-called erroneously Law on educational freedom“he assured Marc Candelacoordinator of Step-PV industrial actionwho also denounced that “there are centers that have opened without any sanitation or disinfection certificate, which puts the health and safety of children and workers at risk”.
“We ask The consultant visits schools and institutesthen evaluate whether they are ready to open or not. There are some that are still in very poor condition,” he said. According to his estimates, there are still “20 thousand male and female students who have not resumed their activities”. “The situation is particularly serious 2nd year Baccalaureate students who has to take the university entrance tests. We do not accept the proposal to take the exam in July, we believe that Education should adapt the tests to the time it has had to prepare them”, he explained.
For his part, the regional secretary of Education, Daniel McEvoyhe asked”unit“to the educational community because according to him “it is not the time to divide, but to support each other and work together
The same students from the schools and institutes affected by the dana were very present at the demonstration. A dozen boys and girls of Jaume I of Paiporta hold a banner that they helped prepare this morning: “Paiporta, schools without mud”you can read. “The only thing Education does is set opening dates that aren’t real. If they don’t provide resources, schools won’t be able to open. The little ones need it emotional, educational and social stability“, he defends himself Noseresident in Paiporta and mother of a six-year-old girl.
Carlesprofessor of Therapeutic Pedagogy at the IES Berenguer Dalmau from Catarroja, says the institute is “very impressed”. «It will be very difficult for us to return during the year and the Ministry keeps us from seclusion. They suggested we move to Picassent, but that was it not vital. We would like to stay in Catarroja, the town hall is overturned in giving us space,” he underlines. Along the same lines Mariló Ferriols, professor at the CEIP Orba de Alfafarclaims school is ‘clean,’ but needs to start its’reconstruction“. “They moved us to the other public centre in the municipality and this Tuesday we started. We need planning, agile communication with precise information on what the institutions’ actions will be”, he observed.
Among the participants it was possible to see some political representativeswho joined the call for the resignation of President Carlos Mazón and the Minister of Education, José Antonio Rovira. Joan Baldoví, ombudsman of Compromí in Les Corts, criticized that it was the teachers, students and families who “had to clean our centres”. “It is a government that has abandonedand continues to do so four weeks later, in our schools and institutes.” For his part, Jose Luis LorenzSpokesperson for Education of the PSPV in les Corts, insisted that the educational communities cannot clean the centres. “The responsibility lies with the department. It cannot happen that contradictory circulars are sent“he said.
Read the poster
With the arrival of the leader in the Plaza de la Virgen the reading of the posters began, preceded by a emotional minute of silence in memory of the victims of the dana, which amounted to 221 dead and five people still missing. Those who had the task of giving voice to the requests were Alessandra Usopresident of the Escola Valenciana, e Rafa Ramospresident of Interampa Federation of Paiporta. “Families and leaders had no say in planning emergency measures, despite being the most affected,” the latter said.
The text highlights “the lack of coordination in the cleaning and disinfection of the centers”, as well as the “confused and late” communication. between the department of Rovira and the schools. “Him school transport was insufficient and dangerous, not even the emotional impact was taken into account”, they indicated and wondered why “a recovery plan for the affected centers was not presented”.
In parliaments they also criticized the implementation of measures that ”dismantle the public school model” and called for the reactivation of the system Construction planrespect for model agreementsas well as the withdrawal of consultation on the choice of basic languagewhich threatens, among other things, “the use of Valencian as a vehicular language at risk”.
How can parents and students advocate for better educational conditions in light of the recent protests?
Interview Between the Time.news Editor and Education Expert Marc Candela
Time.news Editor: Welcome to our interview, Marc. Thank you for joining us today. Recently, Valencia witnessed a massive protest involving around 5,000 people from the educational community. Can you give us some insight into what prompted this demonstration?
Marc Candela: Thank you for having me. The protest was a response to what we perceive as a deeply flawed and disorganized management of the aftermath of the DANA flooding that affected our schools. Many schools were left in poor condition, and almost a hundred were impacted severely. Families, students, and educators feel abandoned and frustrated with the government’s approach to handling these crises.
Editor: That sounds incredibly distressing. The slogan “Escoles sense fang” resonated with many during the demonstration. Can you elaborate on its significance?
Candela: Absolutely. “Escoles sense fang,” which translates to “Schools without mud,” reflects the urgent need for safe, clean, and functional educational environments. Many schools haven’t received the necessary sanitation and disinfection, which raises serious health and safety concerns for our children and staff. This protest was about more than just cleanliness; it was about the fundamental right to education in safe spaces.
Editor: You mentioned in the protest that there are still around 20,000 students who haven’t resumed their activities. How has this disruption impacted those students, especially those in critical years like the second-year Baccalaureate students?
Candela: The impact has been significant, particularly for students preparing for university entrance exams. Many of these students are in a vulnerable position as they face pressures to perform despite the chaos. We strongly object to the idea of rescheduling these exams to July, as education should adapt to their circumstances, not the other way around.
Editor: How are educators coping with these challenges on the ground, particularly in schools that have already started operating again?
Candela: Educators are doing their best under tough circumstances. Many teachers feel dislocated and uncertain about how to proceed. Some institutions have relocated temporarily, while others still need proper assessments to confirm they are safe to operate. There’s an urgent call for clear communication and planning from the Ministry to ensure that we can support our students effectively.
Editor: Speaking of the government, the regional secretary of Education, Daniel McEvoy, called for unity within the educational community. How do you feel about this appeal, considering the current tensions?
Candela: Unity is essential, especially in times of crisis. However, unity can’t come at the cost of overlooking accountability. It’s vital for the government to acknowledge its failures and take responsibility for the situation we’re in. True collaboration will only be possible if the government listens to the voices of those directly affected – the students, the families, and the educators.
Editor: Throughout this challenging period, what message do you want to share with families and students who are anxiously waiting for resolution?
Candela: My message is one of solidarity and resilience. We are advocating tirelessly on behalf of our community, demanding not just immediate relief but a sustainable plan for the future. Education is a right, and we must ensure that every child has access to a safe and conducive learning environment. We urge families to stay engaged and vocal, as their voices are crucial to bringing about the change we need.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Marc. We will certainly keep a close eye on the developments regarding this situation in Valencia. Your commitment to advocating for the educational community is commendable.
Candela: Thank you. It’s vital to keep this conversation going. Education is the cornerstone of our society, and we must all work together to protect it.