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La Voz de Madrid

Catholic Schools of Madrid demand more funding and autonomy from the Community

The educational organization calls for a clear roadmap to strengthen the subsidized model amidst current challenges.

Facade of a traditional Spanish town hall with a balcony and iron railings, under the afternoon sunlight.
IA

Facade of a traditional Spanish town hall with a balcony and iron railings, under the afternoon sunlight.

The 3rd Assembly of Catholic Schools of Madrid brought together nearly 400 educational leaders to analyze the challenges of subsidized schools, demanding more funding and autonomy from the Community of Madrid.

Emilio Díaz, regional secretary of Catholic Schools of Madrid (ECM), opened the 3rd Assembly of Owners, Directors, and Administrators of the organization, warning about the rapid integration of artificial intelligence in education without deep reflection on its place in classrooms. The event, held at the Sagrado Corazón School, gathered around 400 educational leaders to address the challenges facing subsidized schools.
During the day, ECM conveyed to the vice-counselor of Education of the Community of Madrid, José Carlos Fernández Borreguero, the urgency of establishing a roadmap to strengthen the subsidized educational model. The president of ECM, Miguel Ángel Fraile, requested an increase in financial resources and respect for the autonomy of the centers, advocating for an evolution towards a more autonomous, equitable, and better-resourced subsidized school.
The organization acknowledged the regional government's recent announcement to increase by 70 percent the resources for guidance counselors in subsidized Primary schools, a measure positively valued given the rise in coexistence and mental health issues. However, ECM emphasized that this reinforcement of resources should not compromise organizational autonomy or the current guidance model.
For his part, Fernández Borreguero reaffirmed the Community of Madrid's commitment to freedom of education, highlighting the budgetary increase and the extension of educational subsidies from 10 to 14 years. Both, along with Emilio Díaz, agreed on the importance of maintaining fluid communication between the Administration and the educational sector.
Artificial intelligence was another central topic. Educational consultant Carles Suero warned about its profound impact on teaching and classroom interactions. Citing Pope León XIV's encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas,' he advocated for educational strategies based on prudent and humanizing criteria, cautioning against hasty implementation.
The director of La Inmaculada Marillac school, Sor María Ángeles López, highlighted the growing concern over students with mental health and anxiety issues, and denounced the excessive bureaucracy in guidance departments, calling for more time for student support.
Preparations for the Pope's visit to Madrid were also emphasized. Miguel Ángel Fraile expressed the Catholic school's joy for this event, which will serve to confirm the faith and educational mission of numerous schools that will open their doors to young people.
The assembly also addressed European funding (Horizon Program), legal-labor updates, bilingualism (BEDA program), and negotiations for the VIII collective agreement for subsidized education. Catholic Schools of Madrid represents 340 centers, over 223,000 students, and 18,600 professionals, encompassing 69% of Madrid's subsidized educational offerings.

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