Pressure grows in Madrid schools and secondary schools over unresolved problems

In Madrid, school life is becoming increasingly complicated for families, students and teachers. The arrival of Mercedes Zarzalejo at the Regional Ministry of Education has revived old demands that remain unanswered. While President Isabel Díaz Ayuso has reached agreements with public universities, schools and secondary schools face a critical situation: staff shortages, infrastructure problems and essential services that do not reach every centre.

The unions insist that the new minister must listen to those who live the day-to-day reality in classrooms. CSIF Educación and Comisiones Obreras describe the atmosphere as a “pressure cooker”. They demand rapid solutions to issues that have dragged on for school years: insufficient staffing, classrooms without climate control, a shortage of public places in Vocational Training and difficulties in completing placements, as well as the lack of canteens in secondary education and grants that prioritise private education.

The situation has become visible at secondary schools such as Miguel de Cervantes and Rayuela, in Móstoles, where staff have gone on strike because of the lack of resources and the deterioration of the facilities. They report leaks, unusable classrooms, electrical problems and shortages of cleaning and administrative staff. Rosa Rocha, president of the Asociación de Directores de Institutos Públicos de Madrid, stresses the urgency of filling all administration and service posts, especially with the imminent student admissions campaign. She also calls for nurses and psychologists in every centre, given the increase in mental-health cases among students.

Another concern is the decision to keep first- and second-year ESO pupils in primary schools. Headteachers consider that this measure makes integration and academic guidance more difficult when students move on to secondary schools. They also call for more public Vocational Training places and more partner companies for placements, as well as more practical teacher training to face the first year in schools.

Families, represented by FAPA Francisco Giner de los Ríos, focus on climate control in schools. Extreme heat in summer and cold in winter affect more than a hundred schools, and the lack of progress on a specific plan is causing concern. They also call for canteens in public secondary schools, as fewer than twenty centres offer this service in the whole region. Without a canteen, many teenagers lose the option of one balanced meal a day and access to grants.

FAPA rejects vouchers for private nurseries, upper secondary education and Vocational Training, and argues that public funds should be used to expand public provision. The shortage of places in special education and the need for trained staff on school transport routes are other urgent demands. Meanwhile, teachers call for salary improvements, a reduction in teaching hours and less bureaucracy, as well as for the management of Vocational Training placements to fall to the Administration rather than teachers.

The network of public educational centres in Madrid is diverse and extensive, but it carries inequalities depending on the neighbourhood and district. Older secondary schools and schools tend to face greater problems with maintenance and adapting to new needs. In recent years, demand for Vocational Training places and services such as canteens or psychological support has grown, reflecting the city’s social and family changes. Madrid is already beginning to move in that direction, but the speed of the response remains key if public education is to keep pace with the real rhythm of urban life.