After a week of strips and loosers between Asturias government and educational unions, the failed attempt at a negotiating table, a macromanifestation in Oviedo on Sunday (), and the radicalization of the strike that since Monday is indefinite in all non -university schools of the Principality, the Minister of Asturian Education, has announced on Monday its “irrevocable decision” to resign.
The counselor has presented her resignation irrevocable.
I want to thank you, from heart, your work, commitment and generosity, as well as your honesty and dedication.
Consider that taking a step back facilitates the search for solutions and understands what it is …
– 🌹 Adrián Barbón 💙💛 (@adrianbarbon)
In a letter sent to the Asturian President, Adrián Barbón (PSOE), Espina has admitted that the events that have been developing in recent weeks have assumed a huge emotional and personal wear and tear that has reached its limit. “I feel that noise and attacks have crossed the limits of the rational and political, reaching the personal. And they have imposed on any possibility of dialogue since the respect that we all deserve. This is something that is essential to advance in favor of that common objective that is to improve public education,” he says in the letter.
The until now counselor, who held the position since July 2021 and who previously was the general director of educational planning and infrastructure, has considered that in these circumstances it cannot be part of a solution that has been convinced that it will end up being achieved.
Espina has said that he is concerned “that this conflict ends up deteriorating the trust and perception of Asturian society about public education”, when it comes to “a system that is currently at the head of all national and international evaluations, not only in academic success but also for its equity.”
The conflict in Asturian public education began in April, after the decision of the Ministry to suppress the reduced day of teachers in the months of June and September before the extension of the dining service to these periods. A decision that radicalized the position of the unions to the point that last week President Barbón said to the counselor and announced in the Parliament that the reduction of day would not be suppressed.
But the spark had already jumped, and the five educational unions (ANPE, CC OO, Suatea, UGT and CSIF) took advantage of the anger to put on the table a battery of claims such as a salary climb, an increase in the templates, the reduction of bureaucracy and the provision of more personnel to address the diversity of students.
The until now head of Education, which is on a medical leave, has admitted that he has made “mistakes, as any human being” makes them, but has specified that he has never made a decision “to aggravate or despise anyone, since each and every one has aimed to strengthen an educational system that will enhance the abilities of all students, also attending to their emotional well -being, accompanying families already Asturian society. ”
Given this situation, the educational unions demand from the Government of the Principality an interlocutor with the authority to negotiate the demands of teachers who are able to transfer an “solvent” economic proposal for Asturian education. In this sense, the vice president of the Asturian government, Gimena Llamedo, and the spokesman of the regional executive and counselor of the Treasury, Guillermo Peláez, will be the ones who take the reins of the negotiation with the unions that are resumed this afternoon.
The president of the Principality. “I want to thank you, from heart, your work, commitment and generosity, as well as your honesty and dedication,” said the head of the Asturian Executive through his profile on social networks, where he has shared the letter that Espina has directed to communicate his decision.
Second resignation
Thorn is the second resignation that occurs in the government presided by Barbón in just over a month and a half. On April 15, and also after communicating its decision by letter to the President, the until then Minister of Ecological Transition, Industry and Commerce, Belarmina Díaz, announced in an appearance in the Asturian Parliament its decision to resign caused five dead.
Both resignations have been preceded by the express and repeated request of the parties of the Asturian parliamentary right. The president of the PP of Asturias, Álvaro Queipo, considers that the resignation of the Minister Espina is another sample of a government that “is decomposing and generates political instability” that cannot be extended for two more years “, so she has asked Barbón to take aside.
“This is not enough and if the solution is an early elections, it will have to be the government who decides it,” said the popular leader in a press conference in which he has asked Barbón to reflect “and for once thinks of Asturias” and what is causing with “this instability and inability to solve problems.”
Similar arguments has used the deputy of Vox, Javier Jové, who has also claimed the call for early elections in the Principality. The deputy and general secretary of Forum Adrián Pumares has affirmed that Lydia Espina had no “more exit than the resignation”, while the parliamentarian of the Mixed Group Covadonga Tomé has described as “unfortunate” the tendency of Adrián Barbón to “make policy show.”
They have not spoken about it from IU-Convocatorio by Asturias, a governing partner with the PSOE. Yes, the Secretary General of CC OO, José Manuel Zapico, has considered that the resignation of the counselor has been the “necessary response” to the mass demonstration of the teachers that took place in Oviedo.
Full text of the resignation letter
Dear President:
Through these lines, my irrevocable decision to resign as education Minister of the Principality of Asturias.
When I assumed the responsibility of being in charge of the Ministry of Education, I made it convinced of the need to work tirelessly committed to the objective of achieving a better Asturian educational system, more inclusive, with more quality, equitable and for all students. As a teacher I have always been very aware of the enormous expectations and trust that Asturian society has deposited in public education. Today I keep it in mind when making this decision.
I honestly have to say that the events that have been developing in recent weeks have supposed for me a huge emotional and personal wear that has reached its limit. I feel that noise and attacks have crossed the limits of the rational and political, reaching personal. And they have imposed on any possibility of dialogue since respect that we all deserve. This is something that is essential to move forward in that common objective that is to improve public education.
So I am living this situation and in these circumstances I think I cannot be part of a solution that, I am convinced, will end up being achieved.
With my heart in my hand I must tell you that I have always believed and I consider that in all facets of life you have to act from empathy and respect for all people. From humanity, ultimately.
I write this letter with enormous sadness, but also since hope. Throughout my professional career as a teacher I have seen how our educational system was strengthened and I have felt part of that process. Our public school is the most valuable heritage that we have the Asturians and the Asturian. I am convinced of it. And I am proud because we have built it among all, above any particular interest, however legitimate, always thinking about their final recipients: our children, our young people.
That is why this conflict ends up deteriorating the trust and perception of Asturian society about public education. It is important that we remember that it is a system that is currently at the head of all national and international evaluations, not only in academic success but also for its equity.
I have undoubtedly made mistakes, as any human being commits them. But I also know that I have never made a decision to aggravate or despise anyone. Each and every one has aimed to reinforce an educational system that will enhance the abilities of all students, also attending to their emotional well -being, accompanying families and teachers and responding to the needs of Asturian society. I hope that when noise ceases, you can recognize all the work we have developed.
I would also like to have a few words for my team, for the people who have accompanied me in this exciting experience in these years, with which I have worked side by side and shared ideals. Your support has been invaluable. Without them I would not have been able to assume this management. In the same way, I could not have done it without the complicity, patience and support of my family.
I finish, president, thanking you for the confidence deposited in me all these years. I am sure, knowing you how I have come to do it in these years, that you will understand these reasons that I am tried to move by talking from the heart and conviction.
