The reinforcement measures planned by the Central Government to improve mathematics and reading comprehension will also reach high school students.
Initially, the reinforcement plan announced on Sunday by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, was planned for primary and secondary school students, but yesterday the same president, who participated in the meeting of the permanent commission of the State School Council, reported that it would be extended to high school students as well as those in basic vocational training. In total, there are 5.3 million schoolchildren in public and private schools.
“It is important that the Government proposes solutions to a problem that we recognize must improve, and that it supports students, teachers and families”, stated the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría.
“That’s why we want to launch this plan, which will have teaching staff split up so that there is more personalized attention, with more resources for the centers and extracurricular classes”, he added.
The minister did not specify the necessary investment that will have to be reflected in the general State budgets for 2024, but she stated that “the final budget will be as ambitious as its objective”.
Initially, the president of the Spanish Government had estimated a funding of 500 million euros.
Alegria asked to check the newspaper archives to trust that there will be enough funding. “The educational measures put in place by the Government have always had the support of significant funding, such as scholarships, which have a budget 70% higher than PP governments”.
The educational reinforcement plan on which the School Council has been asked to draw up proposals and which will be brought to the sectoral meeting with the autonomous communities on Wednesday 31 January is based on supporting the improvement of mathematics and reading comprehension.
In mathematics, reinforcement is planned from 3rd primary, where mathematical foundations begin to be consolidated, to 4th ESO and high school, with small groups in the classroom. There will be more than one teacher in the classroom to cater for diversity.
The second measure is revision classes outside of school hours for the most backward students, in the style of the program for guidance, advancement and educational enrichment in centers of special complexity (PROA), which aims to help the students with special educational complexity.
The minister did not rule out options such as reinforcement after school or during the summer holidays.
Finally, training is planned for teachers both in mathematical content and in teaching.
The ministry wants to propose to regional councilors of education the possibility of remunerating teachers who receive training.
In the case of reading comprehension, the plan extends from the first year of primary school, all compulsory education and up to high school.
The preliminary initiative, subject to the changes of the advisors and the proposals of the School Council, is to increase reading time and increase practices that benefit reading comprehension. The material in the school library could be improved. It is also intended to improve oral expression.
The aid will be distributed in the form of territorial cooperation plans, which are set based on various criteria, such as social vulnerability, education and depopulation.
