The Basque Parliament has given the green light to an amendment from the PNV and the PSE-EE that urges the regional government to "continue reinforcing" the training of teachers for "greater knowledge and self-management" of the diseases that affect students.
The Plenary of the Basque Chamber addressed this issue on Monday following a proposal from the PP. The initiative from the popular party was rejected with 63 votes against (PNV, EH Bildu, PSE, and Sumar), six in favor (those from the PP itself), and the abstention of the only parliamentarian from Vox.
The non-legislative proposal from the PP demanded the Basque Government to "design and schedule" a plan to progressively implement the role of the school nurse in non-university educational centers funded with public money in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, "ensuring their physical presence, regular and full-time."
Additionally, it proposed that these professionals depend on Osakidetza, "ensuring their training, functional, and clinical linkage with the Primary Care teams and the corresponding Integrated Health Organizations (OSI)."
The amendment from Sumar, which was also rejected, proposed that the Basque Government strengthen healthcare in schools and institutes through nursing staff assigned to the Primary Care teams of Osakidetza and coordinated with the educational system.
It also demanded an increase in nursing staff "to ensure sufficient and planned care in educational centers, taking into account the number of students and their health and social needs."
On the other hand, the amendment from EH Bildu —also rejected— asked the Government to, "in order to deepen community care," establish in each integrated health organization "the necessary healthcare professional staff to work with educational centers, in order to address the promotion and prevention of health in educational centers in the community, with families, students, and professionals."
Finally, the joint amendment of the PNV and the PSE-EE was approved with the 36 votes of both formations against the 34 votes against from the other groups. The text urges the Basque Government to continue guaranteeing the channels of coordination between the Departments of Education and Health "to address the specific health needs of the school population in schools through the reference health centers during school hours."
In the same way, it demands the Executive "to continue strengthening the competencies of students regarding health promotion and the acquisition of healthy habits." It also asks "to continue reinforcing the training offer to the educational community and especially to the teaching staff that allows for greater knowledge and self-management of the disease and autonomy of the students."