The public education strike had repercussions this Wednesday at the Official Language School (EOI) in Elda, where the oral exams scheduled for 106 students of English, French, and Valencian were postponed. According to Esther Belda, head of the English Department at EOI Elda, the affected students were summoned for oral tests at various levels. New dates will be announced soon on the center's website, and all students will be able to take the exams later. Belda noted that “Everyone has taken it quite well. It has caused inconvenience, especially among people who came from afar, but most have told us they understand and support us”.
The teachers themselves at EOI Elda gathered at the school's entrance under the slogan “Teacher Dignity.” During the event, the faculty read a manifesto denouncing years of cuts in official language schools and demanding increased investment in public education. They assert that EOI Elda has lost 29 groups in recent years, in addition to experiencing increased class sizes, delays in covering absences, and a progressive reduction in educational offerings.
Among the consequences, they highlighted the disappearance of certain languages such as German and French in the Villena and Novelda sections, and a reduction in groups for various specialties in Elda. The manifesto calls for “the halting of cuts to groups and staff, the recovery of eliminated languages and groups, a reduction in class sizes, and an improvement in resources and working conditions to guarantee quality public education.”
The faculty also expressed their rejection of the aggression suffered by a teacher during a protest held last Sunday in Valencia. They showed solidarity with their affected colleague and demanded that the facts be clarified and responsibilities be assumed. They advocate for the role of official language schools as specialized public centers for language teaching and defend their importance in ensuring accessible, quality education for all citizens. The mobilizations, they assure, will continue until the regional Ministry addresses the demands of the educational community.
