These two high schools are among the thirteen centers designated to implement this measure, which, according to the executive, aims to promote coexistence. However, the working teams of the centers have expressed their disagreement, calling the decision «an insult» and criticizing that it was made without consulting the educational community.
“"We find no justification for it. We certainly have problems, but we have a healthy coexistence."
The complete lack of information regarding the deployment and implementation of the measure has been one of the most criticized points. Several students have pointed out that the plainclothes police presence is perceived as «a racist and stigmatizing attack,» which questions the work done in the centers and reinforces prejudices about their educational community.
The workers' assemblies of the high schools in l'Hospitalet have issued a joint statement demanding the withdrawal of the plan. They argue that conflict is not resolved with «police measures, but social ones,» and advocate for the need to hire specialized professionals, such as social educators, counselors, and caregivers, to support students in complex situations.
The Department of Education and the Mossos d'Esquadra announced last week the start of this pilot program to reduce conflicts, an initiative that has drawn criticism from teaching unions, who claim they were not consulted. The plan will be experimentally activated in thirteen secondary schools, where officers will be plainclothes and unarmed, intervening only when necessary. The educational areas involved include l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Vic (Osona), Alta Ribagorça-Vall d'Aran, and Tàrrega (Urgell), as well as two centers in el Prat de Llobregat and Sabadell (Vallès Occidental).
This announcement comes at a time of tension between the Department of Education and the majority teaching unions in Catalonia, following an agreement with minority unions to call off strikes, which has been rejected by other union organizations.
