Not A Good Time... For Teachers

It's not a happy camp at the moment in the world of Spanish Education.  With the Government under pressure from the EU to make up its deficit, the Governments of Spain are making many cuts in public education and health.

In fact, in order to reduce the deficit to 1.5%, all Andalusian civil servants are facing a reduction in salary, the removal of several benefits, and a longer working week (35 to 37.5).  What hurts them even more is that, shortly before becoming President of the Junta, José Antonion Griñan promised that civil servants' wages wouldn't be cut.  Plus, they had to find out about the changes through the media, along with the rest of Andalucía.

A protest demonstration in Sevilla.

What everyone is really angry about, however, is that there are some people who have got their funcionario (civil servant) jobs through who they know, and not what they know.  So, those who studied so hard for the difficult oposiciones exams are extremely frustrated that these people were allowed through because of their contacts.  They have a reputation for not working hard, as they know they're untouchable, and often earn more than those who worked their way up.  Therefore, the other funcionarios are furious that their salaries are being reduced while these people swan around the office filling in time.

An enchufado (plugged in) is a person who gets a job through contacts (or enchufes).

However, getting a job as a teacher in Spain is quite different to doing so in New Zealand.

First, you have to study your specialist subject at university.  Most teachers only teach one subject here.

Next, you have to sit extremely difficult exams, which are called oposiciones.  The reason that they're called 'oppositions' is because you really are trying to beat everyone else.  Once you pass the exam and secure a teaching position, you are a civil servant (funcionario) who is guaranteed work as a teacher for life.

Students sitting opposiciones.

Because of this guarantee, many people want to be funcionarios.  As a result, you don't just have to pass the exam, you have to do so with a high enough mark to be among the top few in order to get a job.  You could be sent anywhere in the comunidad autónomo where you sat the exam, but you will at least have a job.  You can't choose your school; you are sent to it by the local government.  However, after having worked for some time, or if you have special skills, you can accumulate puntos (points) which allow you some say in the matter.

Being an interino is difficult.

On the other hand, I have one friend who has passed the exam, but wasn't lucky enough to get a place, so is still working as an interino.  Which brings me to my next point: interinos (temporary workers).  These are people who have expertise in a teaching subject, but haven't sat or passed the opposiciones.  They can be doing long term relieving, for a period of weeks, months, or even filling a position for a whole year if no-one else is available.  They can be told one afternoon that they are being sent to somewhere five hours' drive away, and be required to sign papers in the capital of that province the following day. 
What's more, the recent cuts are particularly harsh on interinos, reducing their working day, and therefore salary, by 15%.

So, understandably, morale is currently rather low in schools (and many offices, I imagine) around Andalucía.