Barcelona’s university entrance exams, known as Selectivitat, went ahead on Wednesday despite an ongoing education strike in Catalonia. Students sat their tests as scheduled, with teachers from Institut Joan Miró in Cornellà accompanying them to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).
One teacher from Institut Joan Miró said the school had joined previous strike days, but chose not to do so this time because of the exams. The teacher said it was difficult to strike on the day and added that half of the teaching staff was away on a school trip.
The decision shows the pressure schools face during industrial action when major student assessments are taking place. Selectivitat is a key step for pupils across Catalonia, as the results help determine university placement.
Teachers’ participation in the strike has varied across the region. Unions have called for better working conditions and more investment in public education, while schools have tried to limit disruption for students taking exams.
Further strike days could still affect other parts of the academic calendar. Readers can follow our latest Catalonia education coverage on the news tag, and check the official UPC site for exam-related information at upc.edu.