Emergency measures to cut public spending in education

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. When hiring new civil servants is not allowed or the replacement rate is below 50%, education authorities may raise the maximum number of students per classroom by up to 20% in primary and compulsory secondary education. This also applies to other programs and to private schools funded with public money.
2. A minimum teaching schedule is set for teachers: 25 hours per week in early childhood and primary education, and 20 hours in other programs. Extra hours can only be counted above those minimums.
3. In public schools, interim teachers may be appointed to replace a permanent teacher only after ten teaching days have passed. The first ten days must be covered with the school's own resources. The same applies to publicly funded private schools.
4. The application of Royal Decree 1147/2011, on the organization of vocational training, is postponed to the 2014-2015 school year, except for its seventh additional provision. Vocational programs planned for 2012-2013 will also start in 2014-2015, although authorities may move them earlier.
5. The Organic Laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. on Universities is amended: the teaching load of civil servant university faculty is set (24 ECTS credits, adjusted for research activity), cooperation between universities is made easier, their budgets must comply with budget stability, and caps are set on public fees depending on enrollment count and type of program.
6. The cost of tuition grants is shared: the central government pays the lower end of the public fee range, and the Autonomous Communities pay the difference up to the fee they set. At the latest, until the 2015/2016 academic year, the amount paid by the central government will be the fee in force when this rule took effect.

Who it affects

• Education authorities: May raise the maximum number of students per classroom by up to 20% and must set the minimum teaching schedule for teachers.
• Teachers at public and publicly funded private schools: Have a minimum teaching schedule (25 or 20 hours depending on the program), and replacements shorter than ten teaching days are covered without interim hires.
• Public universities: Their budgets must be balanced, their public fees are capped by enrollment count, and their hiring must follow public employment rules.
• University students: Tuition rises for second and later enrollments, and fees can cover up to 100% of costs for non-EU students who are not residents.
• Autonomous Communities: The central government funds the lower end of the tuition fee range in grants, and they pay the difference.

Words worth knowing

Tasa de reposición (replacement rate)

A cap on how many public positions can be offered to replace civil servants who retire or leave.

Créditos ECTS (ECTS credits)

The unit used to measure student workload in European university programs.

Horquilla de precios públicos (public fee range)

The range between a minimum and a maximum within which each Autonomous Community sets tuition fees.

Real decreto-ley (royal decree-law)

A rule with the force of law that the Government can pass urgently in situations of extraordinary need.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries