Rural school zones across Catalonia are criticising excessive bureaucracy and a lack of investment in their facilities, saying the pressure is making daily work harder for staff and families.
Néstor Alonso, director of ZER Pallars Jussà, which includes schools in Isona, La Vall Fosca and Salàs de Pallars, said the rural model allows for more personalised attention, but teachers still face the same administrative demands as larger centres, with fewer resources. He said paperwork can take up to 60% of his working day.
Yolanda Hernández, director of ZER L'Oliver, which includes schools in Maials, Llardecans, Massalcoreig and La Granja d'Escarp, said a long-standing request from ZERs is for staff to travel to all the centres they manage, something the Department of Education does not currently consider.
School trips are another concern. Hernández said transport can push the cost of an excursion well beyond what some families can afford, citing an English theatre outing that costs €8 per pupil before transport, and can reach €20 in total.
She also said her centre is classed as high complexity, with many newly arrived pupils in Catalonia, which adds to the difficulty of covering school expenses. Both directors said rural schools also need more investment in climate control, after temperatures in classrooms rose above 30 degrees in May.
The ZERs are calling for a review of administrative requirements and more funding for rural schools. For more Catalonia education coverage, see our news tag.
