ANPE proposes specific needs students count double for ratio adjustments in Canarias

The teaching union seeks to extend the ratio reduction measure to all students with special educational support needs in the islands.

Generic image of educational books on a desk, symbolizing inclusive education.
IA

Generic image of educational books on a desk, symbolizing inclusive education.

The trade union organization ANPE Canarias has requested the Ministry of Education to extend the ratio reduction measure, already announced for students with special educational needs, to all students with specific educational support needs (NEAE).

This proposal implies that each student with specific educational support needs should be counted as two for the purpose of calculating classroom capacity, in order to adjust classroom ratios. The initiative follows a meeting between union representatives and the Ministry of Education, where various “priority measures” were discussed to improve teachers' working conditions and strengthen the educational system.
The union highlights the growing number of students with different types of educational support needs in recent years, which go beyond those initially considered by the administration. These profiles include students with learning disabilities, attention deficit and hyperactivity, late entry into the educational system, high intellectual abilities, or special personal or school history conditions.

"This scenario demands greater dedication from teachers, which is materially impossible if a specific reduction in group size is not applied due to the presence of each of these students."

a union spokesperson
Among the “zero-cost” proposals that could be implemented immediately, ANPE mentioned the automatic recognition of 'sexenios' —a supplement for continuous training—, as Canarias is the only community where teachers must apply for them. The need to grant teachers days off, a common practice in much of the country, was also raised.
Furthermore, the revision of the intervention protocol for suicide risk in educational centers was addressed. The union reiterated its request that intervention in these cases be the responsibility of specialized health professionals, avoiding assigning these duties to teachers. Other measures include paying interim teachers for July and August if they have worked at least five and a half months, and institutional campaigns to value the teaching profession.
Proposals with greater economic impact include specific ratio reductions for NEAE students, allocation of hours for their coordination and work, and the establishment of an hourly pool for the inclusion of non-Spanish-speaking students. They also requested an increase in hours for department heads and tutoring, and the transfer of religion teachers from early childhood and primary education to the autonomous administration.