Housing and education protests get loud as election countdown begins

An indefinite teachers’ strike in Spain’s Madrid region has brought thousands onto the streets, with demonstrators demanding improvements to public education.

A sea of green swept through the streets of Madrid on Friday as tens of thousands of teachers, parents and students wearing green t-shirts raised their voices to demand dignified public education.

The strike began on Wednesday and teachers have refused to return to classrooms until their demands are met - even though that means going without pay.

“We want fewer students in each classroom and support for the teachers working with students with special needs, they don't have the support that they really need,” primary school teacher Cristina Perez shouts above the noise of drums, whistles and ‘Public Education’ chants.

“The infrastructure. We need better buildings in the state schools,” says Claudia Saralegui, a Biology and Geography teacher, when asked what needs to change.

Sixteen-year-old high-school student Irati Vandrash says: “All of the money that should go for public education maybe is destined to private education which shouldn't be.”

“We want to keep this peaceful for now”

Asked if they were inspired by similar school protests in France Vandrash says: “We don't want to go to such violence. We want to keep this peaceful for now, but I do empathise with them.”

Protestors drum up their demands

The demonstrations have brought a carnival atmosphere to the streets with dozens of drummers, dances, and creative signs but the demands reflect deeper concerns about public services in Madrid.

Spain’s 17 decentralised regional governments are responsible for key areas including education and healthcare, and while the central government sets out frameworks and funding, it’s these ‘Autonomous Communities’ and regional governments who deliver the services, putting Madrid’s conservative regional president, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, at the centre of the dispute.

An influential figure in the opposition nationally, Ayuso and her People’s Party government face accusations from the left that they are underfunding public services and favoring private providers.

She has defended her handling of Madrid’s public services.

"We are going to have record numbers of teachers this year, adding 1280 more than last year, and 673 special needs assistants and teachers for those with specific needs,” she said on the first day of the school year, also defending private and mixed-model schools: "We are also going to reinforce and protect public-private partnerships in schools, because it's fundamental to protect the freedom of parents to choose the type of education they want for their children."

Heated debates in the Madrid Assembly reflect political polarisation nationwide.

“The teachers are on strike in case you hadn’t noticed,” opened Mar Espinar, the PSOE Socialist Party Spokesperson, taking aim at Ayuso in a recent sitting of the regional parliament. “You are suffocating the health system and people in Madrid cannot access housing, but you and people like you don’t care because you can ignore the misery in your luxury apartments with your windfall profits.”

A scandal involving a six-million-dollar plus penthouse apartment near her mother’s home has hurt Ayuso, but she still enjoys strong support among the country’s right-leaning voters.