The Junta de Extremadura has foreseen in its accounts for 2026 an allocation of 24.6 million euros for the salary increase of teaching staff, along with an investment of 89.5 million euros destined for the improvement and construction of educational infrastructures.
In a press conference after registering the draft Budget of Extremadura for 2026 in the Assembly of Extremadura, the Minister of Finance, Public Administration and Social Dialogue and spokesperson for the regional Executive, Elena Manzano, has stressed that the Ministry of Education will have a global allocation of 1,620 million euros, the second highest after that of Health.
Among the main lines of action of this department, Manzano has focused on the improvement of teachers' remuneration, a group that, in her opinion, had been "forgotten" and had suffered "many years of neglect," as well as the rest of public employees.
"We are attending to their needs and, since January, 80 euros more are being paid in the payroll to each and every one of those teachers. And that has a budgetary reflection of 24.6 million euros. And with their help, we will continue to advance in improving their professional development and their working conditions," the spokesperson expressed.
The Ministry of Education also incorporates a budget of 9.8 million euros for the improvement of the working conditions of educational technical assistants (ATE) and sign language interpreters (Ilse), as well as another of 17 million euros to complete the free provision of the first cycle of early childhood education, from 0 to 3 years.
In addition, the 2026 accounts include an increase of five million euros for school transport, which will reach 23.8 million, and an increase of one million euros, up to three million, to reinforce dining and transport grants.
The Education department will also have 919,000 euros to finance aid for English studies outside of school hours, and its credits for educational infrastructures will be increased by 25.3 million, to a total of 89.5 million, in order to promote both the improvement and the construction of new centers.
In relation to these actions, Manzano has pointed out that there are infrastructures "that were falling apart," so the Junta will direct resources to the repair of centers, the improvement of energy efficiency, and the construction of new buildings.
In the field of Vocational Training, the regional Executive plans to allocate two million euros in aid to SMEs to remunerate Dual Vocational Training students, and another 2.5 million euros to the acquisition of equipment and the operation of FP centers.
On the other hand, the regional Government plans to increase funding for the University of Extremadura by 13.8 million euros, reaching 142.1 million euros. Within this amount, three million euros are contemplated for university scholarships, grants, and awards, in addition to a 10% increase in the allocation to the University of the Elderly.
Overall, the budget of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training for 2026 amounts to 1,620.75 million euros, representing an 11.8% growth compared to 2025. This amount constitutes the second largest item in the regional government's accounts and represents 18.3% of the total credits. Within the planned expenditure, the one corresponding to the General Directorate of Teaching Staff stands out, concentrating 57.5% of the ministry's funds.