Educació dismisses the general secretary and opens three disciplinary files for the mess of PISA

The Catalan Department of Education has announced the opening of three disciplinary proceedings against officials over errors in the PISA tests, while also dismissing its chief deputy, Teresa Sambola, as part of a move to initiate a “new phase.” The decision comes after the department admitted that the flawed test results left Catalonia excluded from the OECD’s official PISA report, sparking internal investigations and administrative actions. The error in the PISA testing process was identified during the evaluation period, which ran from March 31 to May 16, 2025. According to reports, the percentage of students exempted from taking the exams, due to disabilities, learning difficulties, or language barriers, was significantly higher than the recommended maximum of 5 percent set by the OECD. Instead, the exemption rate reached 23.2 percent, with 591 students among more than 2,000 selected for the tests being excluded. Of these, 6 were exempt due to physical disability, 493 due to cognitive, behavioral, or emotional challenges, and 92 due to insufficient proficiency in the language of instruction. The department acknowledged that the information provided to schools regarding the exemption criteria was technically accurate but incomplete. It failed to specify the 5 percent threshold, leading to confusion and misapplication of the rules. Despite warnings from the Ministry of Education in March, corrective measures were not implemented before the tests concluded. The department claims it was never informed of any issues related to the exemptions. In response, the education minister, Esther Niubó, stated that responsibility for the mistake lies within the department itself rather than with individual school directors. She emphasized that the error could have been avoided through better oversight and communication. Niubó also noted that only five of the 51 participating schools met the recommended exemption rate, highlighting the systemic failure in managing the PISA process. As part of the fallout, Niubó has initiated disciplinary proceedings against two employees classified as having committed serious misconduct and one employee for a lesser infraction. Additionally, she has dismissed Teresa Sambola, the secretary general of the Department of Education, citing the need for a “new phase” in the administration. The replacement for Sambola will be announced following a meeting of the Executive Council. This incident marks the culmination of a particularly contentious academic year in Catalonia. The year was marked by widespread protests, strikes, and tensions between educators and regional authorities. The inclusion of police officers in schools to improve student behavior sparked controversy, while the infiltration of agents into teacher assemblies further fueled unrest. Despite reaching an agreement in May, teachers rejected the deal, leading to planned strikes for the start of the new academic year. Teachers’ unions such as USTEC, UGT, Intersindical, CNT, and COS have already announced plans for walkouts on the first day of classes and subsequent days. The union spokesperson, Iolanda Segura, confirmed the strike plans and criticized the government for not engaging in negotiations throughout the summer. Niubó has expressed hope that discussions can help prevent the strikes, though she acknowledges the likelihood of a difficult start to the school year. She has urged educators to avoid disruptions and to work towards a stable educational environment.