Tension and discontent among some teachers have escalated again on the twelfth day of the education strike. Following the initial resignations of school and institute leadership teams, an assembly of University Entrance Exam (PAU) examiners has now threatened to boycott the courts. This assembly, comprised of more than 250 specialists from the Valencian Community and formed due to stalled negotiations, could ultimately refuse to grade the upcoming university entrance exams.
The trigger for the group’s walkout announcement was a salary agreement signed this Monday between the Regional Ministry of Education and two of the three teachers’ unions, ANPE and CSIF. Secondary school teachers who had voluntarily signed up to grade the exams explained that there is a lot of demotivation and anger over what has happened. The exams are scheduled for next week, on June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, for more than 8,200 students in the province of Alicante.
According to a statement released yesterday, Tuesday 26th May, the teachers appointed to correct the PAU exams are considering not attending the constitution of the tribunals, many of which are scheduled for June 2nd. They are also considering submitting a mass resignation on the day of the constitution and contemplating more forceful actions regarding grades when the time comes.
To justify their decision, the assembly accuses the regional education ministry of being incapable of addressing the needs of Valencian public education, including current students and future university entrance exam candidates. They also cite a refusal to show minimal flexibility regarding improvements proposed by the vast majority of teachers represented by the unions. Furthermore, they highlight a lack of genuine concern for demands related to the Baccalaureate, including exorbitant student-teacher ratios even in proposed improvements, the elimination of groups in the Arts track, poorly equipped classrooms, contempt for the Valencian language and curriculum, unpaid tutoring with fewer hours, and a teaching staff exhausted by bureaucratic demands.
Additionally, the group has called for action against the silence and lack of solidarity they perceive from the five Valencian public universities: UJI, UPV, UA, UV, and UMH. While these universities have expressed support at the departmental level or from individual faculties, which the teachers describe as lukewarm, the assembly believes genuine institutional support for the examining faculty and sincere support for students is necessary. So far, among the public universities in the province of Alicante, only the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the Faculty of Education at the University of Alicante have publicly expressed support.
The Assembly of University Entrance Exam Correctors, operating anonymously with more than 250 specialists, has conveyed its deep unease and anger to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Universities while defending their respect for the students taking the exams. Despite considering a mass resignation, they denied any wish to harm the future of students or their families, arguing that the circumstances and the lukewarm response from the universities have forced them to take these measures.
