The Minister of Education, Alberto Galiana, stated today in the plenary session of the Parliament of La Rioja that he shares the need to "give an impulse" to the "management function" in educational centers.
Galiana took the floor in the session of the Riojan Chamber after the debate on a non-legislative proposal presented by the Socialist Party concluded. This initiative called on the Government of La Rioja to update the order that regulates the appointment procedure for school principals.
The socialist proposal also included a second point to "promote measures that dignify and reinforce the management function, favoring continuous training and guaranteeing working conditions adequate to the responsibility."
"I am delighted to receive proposals, and furthermore, we agree on the importance of the management function," Galiana stated, after socialist deputy Teresa Villuendas highlighted the key role of management teams in academic performance and coexistence in schools.
The minister announced that the Popular Parliamentary Group will vote against the first point of the proposal (votes are concentrated at the end of the plenary session and not after each debate), but will support the second, since, as he indicated, the Riojan Executive "is already working on it."
In this regard, he considered that "the update of the order, which dates from 2015, is necessary but not imminent," since, in his opinion, it must be "addressed with sufficient calm."
"We do agree on the need to reinforce the management function," he insisted, announcing that this matter will be "addressed" in the sectoral tables. In this regard, he reproached the PSOE for, in his opinion, "arriving late."
He specified that the Government foresees "a series of more ambitious changes, with an integral vision," which will affect the entire management team, and not just the figure of the director, and will include the review of the "remuneration part," although the latter will be approached with "prudence and gradualness."
In defense of the proposal, Villuendas had warned of the "difficulty in finding teachers who assume the direction" of the schools. To illustrate this, she cited an expression that appeared in a media outlet which, she said, "reflects" it: "Nobody wants to be the director of this school, it's a thankless job." In her opinion, it is essential to respond to this situation and make this problem visible.