Barcelona, Catalonia – The Catalan government will continue its pilot programme to have plain-clothed Mossos d'Esquadra officers present in educational centres across Catalonia. This decision comes despite some schools initially slated to participate having chosen to withdraw, according to Sílvia Paneque, the Minister for Territory and government spokesperson.
Paneque defended the initiative on Tuesday after a Consell Executiu meeting, stating, "It is voluntary and this pilot plan is also designed at the community's request. I believe it is opportune, and the conviction that this can be a good tool, a good instrument, is what makes us maintain the offer of this pilot." The government has not specified how many or which educational centres have communicated their decision not to participate, but sources confirmed the programme has started in some schools.
Voluntary Participation and Conflict Prevention
The minister emphasised the importance of the plan remaining voluntary, both during the pilot phase and if it is applied more generally across Catalonia. She noted that the programme was designed "at the request of a part of the educational community." Paneque added that even if the plan becomes a regular resource, it will retain its voluntary nature.
She insisted that the presence of officers could be a useful tool for preventing conflicts. Paneque gave examples such as incidents that might occur outside school premises, in public spaces without teacher supervision, or situations involving bullying.
Education Sector Disputes Continue
Beyond the Mossos pilot scheme, the education sector faces ongoing labour disputes. Major unions have called for strikes in the coming weeks, disagreeing with parts of an agreement reached between the government and minority unions UGT and CC.OO.
Paneque defended the existing agreement, stating it would be implemented regardless of whether Ustec·Stes joins it. "It is an agreement that we will implement. In fact, we have already reached some government agreements that allow for this implementation. This May, teachers as a whole will receive the agreed salary improvement, and therefore, the agreement is not at risk," she said. Paneque also indicated that the government remains open to dialogue with other union representatives.
