Catalonia's Education Department has stated that police officers integrated into schools as part of a pilot programme will not replace existing educational professionals. The officers will not enter classrooms or have direct contact with students; their role focuses on coordination and support for staff, led by school management.
Esther Niubó, the Minister of Education, denied any widespread issues with coexistence or security in schools. She insisted the plan responds to requests from regional services, adding that more schools have asked to join the pilot, though this is not possible at present.
Pilot Scheme Underway in 14 Centres
The department explained the pilot scheme on Tuesday afternoon, which has started in 14 primary, secondary, and post-compulsory education centres. These schools are located in six educational zones: Val d'Aran, Vic, Urgell, Sabadell, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and El Prat de Llobregat. Six police officers are involved in the programme.
Following criticism from various educational community groups, the ministry defended the plan, stating it originated from demands by several regional services and is not compulsory. Niubó clarified that participation was offered to a "representative sample" of schools, not those chosen for complexity or existing conflicts. She added that all 14 participating centres confirmed their commitment to the pilot on Tuesday, with others expressing interest in joining.
Education officials said the measure was developed with local authorities and agreed upon with school management teams. They stressed that the police officers' role is to "accompany" existing professionals, not to replace social educators, teachers, or Coeducation, Coexistence, and Wellbeing Coordinators (Cocobe).
Prevention and Mediation Focus
Officers will not become part of the schools' permanent staff structure. Their work will involve prevention and mediation, in agreement with school management. The specific tasks for each officer will vary based on the school's needs and the director's assessment. The department expects the practical application of the pilot to differ between centres.
The participating officers will receive training in coexistence and mediation. In many cases, they are already the reference officers for these schools. Their actions will have an "educational and restorative" perspective.
The ministry argues that in an increasingly complex society, situations occurring outside schools can still "impact" them. This is the context for the officers' role, which goes "beyond" that of a tutor officer or previous school contacts. These police officers will integrate into the educational centres, with one officer potentially covering more than one school.
Niubó added that the goal is to shift from a reactive model to a more preventive one. Officers, familiar with issues around schools, can anticipate conflicts before they affect the centres. The department emphasised that the officers' work will not be punitive or focused on control.
Future Evaluations Planned
The plan was developed between September and December 2025 and is now being implemented. An initial assessment is scheduled for July to identify any necessary adjustments before September. A second evaluation will take place at the end of the first term of the next academic year, after which a decision will be made on whether to expand the plan to other schools.
Regarding El Prat de Llobregat, the ministry confirmed that the pilot was developed "with management, the city council, and regional services," and priorities were set "jointly." Officials added that they had "worked hand in hand from the start." This statement responded to criticisms from the city council last week, which denied that the plan included plainclothes officers in municipal schools.
