The mobilization, which took place on Thursday, brought together dozens of families from all educational stages, braving the rain with umbrellas and banners. The action aims to support the indefinite teachers' strike starting next Monday, emphasizing that «families and teachers go hand in hand for public education».
The AFA of the centers CEIP Ambra, Carolina Sala, Rosalia Bondia, and IES Enric Valor, along with the Plataforma per l’Ensenyament en Valencià and the Associació Cultural Atzaïla, participated in the protest. During the concentration, a manifesto was read highlighting the importance of teachers' daily work and the need for quality, inclusive, and equitable education, in Valencian and with first-class infrastructure.
“"We are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers who want quality, inclusive, and equitable education, in Valencian and equipped with first-class infrastructure. Yes, we want first-class education that is not guaranteed today."
In addition to the demands of the teachers' strike, Pego families added new requests. They are calling for more teachers at all levels, especially support staff, and the presence of other professionals in educational centers, such as nursing staff, social education workers, intercultural mediators, or youth dynamization staff.
Emphasis was also placed on reducing student-teacher ratios to ensure individualized attention and prevent staff overload, especially in early childhood education (0-3 years). Families also demand better centers that consider the needs of each stage and the reality of climate change, with green patios, sustainable buildings, multipurpose classrooms, healthy canteens and menus, and cutting-edge libraries.
The manifesto alluded to the need for a public transport network connecting the region's centers, so that young people have autonomy to access existing training opportunities. Likewise, they advocated for an education system that guarantees education in Valencian from the outset, without subjecting it to choices lacking philological basis.
Coinciding with the concentration, the town hall plenary session unanimously approved a motion in defense of public education, presented by the PSOE and Compromís, and supported by the PP. Families appreciate the teachers' courage in calling the strike, sharing their demands for more investment, more teachers, smaller ratios, better infrastructure, more resources for inclusion, and dignified working and salary conditions.
