Steilas believes that the next school year is "unprecedented" and that this challenge will require a "firm commitment". Union representatives appeal to the Department of Education for collaboration and consensus on the convention. At a time when there are less than two weeks left for the new school year to begin, they see that the Basque Government "still has no proper plan".

Although the document published by the Government last July, Occupational Risk Prevention Measures at CAPV educational centers, to address the risk of exposure to COVID-19, has recognized that it can be an “interesting starting point”, union representatives claim that it will be “impossible” to meet if there are no more staff in educational centers. The proposed plan is not considered realistic. In fact, Steilas has asked the Department of Education a question: “Do you really believe that the current staff is sufficient to comply with the health protection and guarantee measures of presential schools?” If so, “it would not contemplate in its plans scenarios other than the attendance of the students”. If no resources are put in place, the protocol “is nothing more than a document full of intentions and proposals”, conclude, and thus, the Basque Government “does not propose a real plan to start the course that will begin in two weeks’ time”.

Ratios and staff

According to Steilas, an average of 5 more workers would be required in each centre, equivalent to about 3,000 in total. Moreover, in order to promote the creation of smaller groups, so many more would be needed. Therefore, the public education system would need at least 6,000 more workers to “protect health and ensure the right to education”. They also consider the presence of nursing staff in educational centers as “essential”. All this requires "an increase in budgets", the union representatives explained, who want to expand the staff and lower the ratios of the students.

Avoiding responsibilities

Steilas has denounced that in the face of the situation generated by COVID-19, the Department of Education has left all the responsibility “in each center”: “The responsibility it should have”. They consider that the situation requires the legal protection of workers, especially managers, who do not have them. They call on the Department of Education to publish a document guaranteeing such protection. They have also considered the protocol essential to protect the health of the workers of the plant.

Conditions for equal opportunities

Steilas has stated that the only possible alternative is the classroom school, as it is "the only one that guarantees equal opportunities": "Rather than discussing the adequacy of the different scenarios, we should talk about the conditions that need to be put in order to guarantee the classroom classes and the investments that need to be made."