The Catalan Department of Education and Vocational Training has proposed allocating €22 million to improve salaries for Educational Care Staff (PAE). This group is widely recognised as among the lowest-paid in the education sector. The plan was formally presented on Thursday during a key negotiating meeting, signalling a potential step forward in addressing long-standing pay disparities.
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Addressing a Critical Pay Gap
Educational Care Staff (PAE) are non-teaching professionals vital to schools across Catalonia. This group encompasses special education educators, physiotherapists, audiologists, and other specialists who provide essential support, particularly for students with additional needs. Their work is fundamental to creating an inclusive and safe learning environment, yet their remuneration has historically lagged behind that of their colleagues in the Catalan education system.
Sources within the department told Europa Press the proposal was presented at the mesa intercentros. This formal body serves as the negotiating table for all non-civil servant staff employed by the department, including administrative and services personnel (PAS), nursery staff, and certain vocational training teachers, alongside the PAE.
The Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) described the offer as a “very solid proposal” to bolster the wages of its most underpaid educational workers. A departmental source confirmed the funds are explicitly intended to “reinforce the salaries of the PAE, which are the lowest in the educational community.”
A Response to Sustained Campaigns
This government move, headquartered at the Palace of the Generalitat of Catalonia, is not happening in a vacuum. It follows years of campaigning by trade unions demanding greater recognition and improved working conditions for these essential support staff. Organisations such as CCOO Educació have consistently fought for the professional categorisation and fair remuneration of PAE, arguing that their contribution is indispensable for quality education.
Educational Support Personnel are increasingly recognised globally as crucial for achieving inclusive education goals. The Catalan government’s proposed €22 million investment reflects a growing awareness of the need to value and retain these key professionals within the public education system, managed from the department’s offices on Via Augusta in Barcelona.
Next Steps and Negotiations
While the proposal marks a significant development, it is merely the first step in a negotiation process. PAE representatives and other labour groups at the mesa intercentros will now analyse the offer and begin discussions with the Department of Education. The final outcome depends on the distribution details of the €22 million and whether it meets the workforce’s expectations.
The initiative does, however, signal a clear political will to tackle wage inequality within the education sector. If approved, this investment could lead to improved morale, better staff retention, and ultimately, enhanced support for students throughout Catalonia’s schools.
