Galicia Logs 1,393 Teacher Absences in Two Weeks
The Xunta recorded 1,393 teacher absences between September 1 and 15. The regional official proposes a plan to monitor the evolution of this situation.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
1,393 teacher absences in Galicia over two weeks
Between September 1 and 15, the Xunta recorded 1,393 absences among its teaching staff. At the beginning of the academic year, official Román Rodríguez stated on Cadena SER a plan to evaluate and monitor these medical absences: ensuring that those justified by health reasons are counted, but also investigating whether the circumstances supporting them remain constant over time. The figure, initially, does not appear alarming. The context invites a second look.
How many teachers are in Galicia and what is the impact of this absenteeism?
According to a calculation circulating in the forum, the Galician system approaches 32,000 teachers—slightly fewer this year. These absences of around 1,400 account for an absenteeism rate of about 4.5%. According to that calculation, approximately 90% of medical absences are justified. This is the crux of the matter: if nine out of ten are supported by a medical certificate, the problem is not the absences themselves. The attention shifts then to days of free availability—absences that are not accompanied by a certificate—which a forum participant identified as the true flaw in the system, both in administration and private enterprise.
The mismatching data: 3,000 absences per day
Rodríguez set the average at around 3,000 absences recorded per day. This number does not align with the 1,393 counted over two weeks, and combining both in the same discourse confused some debate participants. Meanwhile, unions have criticized the coverage of these absences.
From payroll to staff burnout
The salary comparison is also telling. Within Spain, the difference between autonomous communities reaches nearly €10,000 gross per year between a Basque and an Extremaduran teacher, according to one participant. Furthermore, it is argued that the Spanish salary surpasses the French one. What is consistent, however, is the burnout: bureaucracy, infinite correction of exams, pressure from families and students. The prevailing sentiment is one word: burned out.
If we accept that 90% of absences are justified, a monitoring plan has little to work with. It will have everything else.
Between September 1 and 15, the Xunta recorded 1,393 absences among its teaching staff. At the beginning of the academic year, official Román Rodríguez stated on Cadena SER a plan to evaluate and monitor these medical absences: ensuring that those justified by health reasons are counted, but also investigating whether the circumstances supporting them remain constant over time. The figure, initially, does not appear alarming. The context invites a second look.
How many teachers are in Galicia and what is the impact of this absenteeism?
According to a calculation circulating in the forum, the Galician system approaches 32,000 teachers—slightly fewer this year. These absences of around 1,400 account for an absenteeism rate of about 4.5%. According to that calculation, approximately 90% of medical absences are justified. This is the crux of the matter: if nine out of ten are supported by a medical certificate, the problem is not the absences themselves. The attention shifts then to days of free availability—absences that are not accompanied by a certificate—which a forum participant identified as the true flaw in the system, both in administration and private enterprise.
The mismatching data: 3,000 absences per day
Rodríguez set the average at around 3,000 absences recorded per day. This number does not align with the 1,393 counted over two weeks, and combining both in the same discourse confused some debate participants. Meanwhile, unions have criticized the coverage of these absences.
From payroll to staff burnout
The salary comparison is also telling. Within Spain, the difference between autonomous communities reaches nearly €10,000 gross per year between a Basque and an Extremaduran teacher, according to one participant. Furthermore, it is argued that the Spanish salary surpasses the French one. What is consistent, however, is the burnout: bureaucracy, infinite correction of exams, pressure from families and students. The prevailing sentiment is one word: burned out.
If we accept that 90% of absences are justified, a monitoring plan has little to work with. It will have everything else.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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