Representatives from FSIE Madrid met on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with the Ministry of Education, Science and Universities to address the situation of Early Childhood Education (0-3 years). During the meeting, the importance of this stage for the cognitive and social development of students was emphasized, stressing that its management should not be limited to economic or reconciliation criteria.
One of the union's main demands is a minimum 25% reduction in current ratios. The specific proposal suggests a maximum of 6 students for the 0 to 1-year-old group, 10 students for 1 to 2-year-olds, and 15 students for 2 to 3-year-olds. They argue that current group sizes hinder the promotion of autonomy, socialization, and comprehensive learning for children.
Additionally, fixed support in all classrooms has been requested to value professional work, enable project-based learning, ensure constant safety, and reduce professional burnout. The Ministry has committed to studying the implementation of fixed support, aiming to establish a structure of four educators for every two classes to effectively reduce the professional-to-student ratio.
“"This stage is key for the cognitive and social development of students, so its management cannot be reduced to economic or reconciliation criteria."
The union also denounced an "unacceptable gap" in salaries, showing that a teacher in the public network earns between €2,460 and €2,600 gross per month, while in indirect management, the salary drops to €1,560. To correct this disparity, FSIE Madrid proposes the implementation of delegated payment and a regional supplement. Although the Ministry has increased funding modules by 17%, the union regrets that this increase has not proportionally benefited the workers' salaries, although a new 9% increase for the next fiscal year has been announced.
“"Early childhood education is not a civil work; it is the foundation of the educational system."
Finally, the organization urged that the educational project be prioritized over economic interests in bidding processes, warning that low bids lead to precarious working conditions and cuts in food and materials for children. The Administration has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining open dialogue and reviewing the conditions of new tender specifications for the 2027/2028 academic year.
