A coalition of twenty organisations and unions in Catalonia has strongly rejected a pilot scheme by the Catalan government to place plainclothes Mossos d'Esquadra officers in educational centres. The groups, including La Pública, l'Escola de Tothom, and Desmilitaritzem l'Educació, called for the government to withdraw the initiative, arguing that police presence offers no positive contribution to schools.
Instead, these organisations believe that schools require increased educational resources. Lidón Gasull, president of aFFaC, described the measure as "absurd" in an interview on Betevé's Bon dia, Barcelona. Gasull stated, "Police officers are not educational agents; they are police agents whose role is to control and use force when necessary."
Unions Criticise Police Presence
Trade unions have also joined the criticism. Edu Núñez, Education Secretary for CCOO, told Bon dia, Barcelona that problems in schools are "not a matter of public order to be resolved by a police force." He added, "We must strengthen schools, not bring the Mossos into centres." USTEC-STEs, another union, also expressed strong opposition. Spokesperson Iolanda Segura said the measure "is an insult not only to teachers but also to the students themselves."
President Salvador Illa's executive maintains that the pilot scheme is a response to "demands received by territorial services." Officials said that 14 centres have already requested to participate. During a control session in the Catalan Parliament on Wednesday morning, Illa defended the measure. "What are they afraid of trying?" he asked, responding to criticism from Junts, the Comuns, and the CUP.
Illa also emphasised that the pilot scheme is "voluntary, limited in time, and subject to evaluation." The government plans to proceed with the trial despite the widespread opposition from educational bodies and unions.
