Every year, in the capital alone, around 1,500 students across Infant, Primary, and ESO levels join schools, many arriving after the course has already started. More than half of these students come from abroad and do not understand Catalan, the vehicular language.
Although the Department of Education provides reception classrooms, teachers claim their number is insufficient. This situation forces some schools to enroll children who do not speak a word of Catalan or Spanish directly into regular classrooms.
Diversity is also increasing due to the implementation of the inclusive education decree, which aims to integrate students with disabilities (except severe cases) into conventional schools. While the goal is commendable, the lack of resources is the main issue.
Many of these minors require individualized support that a teacher is unable to provide in a class with twenty students, especially if their training has not included specific guidelines.
The number and assigned hours of support staff, who act as personal assistants, are far from meeting existing needs. This complexity is further compounded by growing social inequality, leaving teachers discontented and struggling to manage this reality without adequate means.
