News
Teachers at subsidised private schools gain improved working conditions until 2031
Teachers at publicly subsidised private schools will face important changes to their schedules, cover arrangements and working conditions over the next five years. The agreement signed by the Generalitat, employers' associations and unions will mobilise €118 million and be applied progressively between 2026 and 2031.
One of the main measures will be the reduction of teaching hours. From the 2026-2027 academic year, teachers over 58 will be able to teach two fewer hours per week, an improvement intended to ease the workload in the final stage of their professional careers.
The reduction will extend in the following academic year to compulsory and post-compulsory secondary teachers. In early-years and primary education, the reduction will be applied gradually: one hour fewer in 2028-2029 and one additional hour in 2029-2030, bringing the timetable to 23 teaching hours per week.
Secondary teachers will complete the process in the 2030-2031 academic year, when their direct teaching timetable will be set at 21 hours per week. The phased implementation will allow schools to adapt staffing, timetables and internal organisation.
The agreement also improves cover for medical leave. Schools will have to bring in a substitute from the seventh day of absence, compared with the 16 days that could pass until now, which will reduce the time during which other teachers have to take on additional groups.
In addition, pay improvements are envisaged for certain teaching posts and functions. The signatory organisations consider that these measures can provide greater stability to staff and facilitate the continuity of educational projects.
The investment of 118 million forms part of a broader strengthening of funding for the state-subsidised school sector, which is expected to receive an additional 390 million euros over five years. The stated aim is to bring its working conditions closer to those of the public sector and improve the quality of the service.
In Barcelona, where the state-subsidised sector has a significant presence in numerous neighbourhoods, the changes will affect both teachers' everyday lives and the organisation of schools. Fewer teaching hours and quicker substitutions may result in more stable attention for pupils and fewer interruptions during the academic year.