Catalan schools to hire 5,000 more workers due to coronavirus

The Catalan government announced on Monday morning that it would be hiring at least 5,000 more professionals for schools in preparation for the new academic year beginning in September.

The government first stated that it was set to allocate another 370 million euros to the education system as a host of new measures will have to be put in place to guarantee the safety of both students and workers. Of these 370 million euros, 234 million euros were supposed to be spent on new hires, 33 million euros were for improving educational needs, and 103 million euros were be used to put in place an online education plan.

Hours later, Catalan president Quim Torra elevated the above figures: 6,000 to 10,000 new teachers and a total of 450 million euros rather than 370 million. 

Next academic year is set to kick off in September with students divided into smaller than usual groups in which safety distances and face masks will not be required – the size of these set groups, however, will be determined by schools and not the government, and Catalan education minister Josep Bargalló explained they will have to present their organization plans by July 23.

Vice president Pere Aragonès also affirmed that "schools will safely open again in September as usual," albeit with new health and safety measures in place in response to the pandemic.