The Basque Country's Department of Education is putting forward a new salary offer and a reduction in student-teacher ratios in primary schools (from 23 to 22 students per class) to end the ongoing teachers' strike in the public education system. This offer follows previous negotiations and aims to prevent further strike action scheduled for October 12-16.
While some unions have welcomed the proposal, others like LAB have expressed reservations, criticizing the way the offer was presented through the media rather than direct written communication. The upcoming negotiation meeting on Thursday will be crucial in determining the strike's future.
The reduction in class sizes, however, is expected to have limited impact, given that many public schools already have fewer than 22 students per class due to declining birth rates. The proposal also considers extending reduced ratios to all public and private schools in the future and includes additional salary supplements for teachers in complex schools with a high percentage of foreign students.
The overall proposal is viewed by the Department as a comprehensive strategy to improve the public education system in the Basque Country.
If an agreement isn't reached, 27,000 public school teachers will continue the strike, impacting approximately 200,000 students. A public demonstration is planned for this Saturday.