La Specific Basic Vocational Training (FPBE) The provision of programs for students with special educational needs has become one of the hottest topics in the educational debate in Andalusia. In recent weeks, protests have multiplied in several schools and in front of government buildings amid fears that these programs will disappear or be transformed in a way that loses their essence.
While the Andalusian Regional Government insists that a reorganization of the vocational training offer Without cuts and with the aim of improving inclusion, families, unions, and various groups are warning of a possible "setback" in the rights of the most vulnerable students. The focus is on what will happen to the Basic Vocational Training programs that currently allow, in many cases, obtain an official qualification and access the job market with adapted support.
Jaén: the IES Las Fuentezuelas, a symbol of resistance in defense of Basic Specific Vocational Training
In the city of Jaén, the conflict is concentrated in the IES Las Fuentezuelaswhere the educational community has organized to stop the elimination of the Basic Vocational Training Cycle in Administrative Services. Early morning demonstrations have become commonplace at the school gates, called by families and the USTEA union, who denounce the measure as leaving the city without a key educational resource for students with specific educational support needs (SEN).
Parents emphasize that this program is not just any option, but a pathway designed for students with special needs who require curriculum adaptations, reduced ratios and specialized supportIn the current group, only five students are in their first year of the Management and Administration cycle, a figure that for families reflects precisely the profile of high vulnerability and not a supposed "waste" of resources.
Those close to the institute criticize the fact that the restructuring was proposed, according to the organizers, with lack of transparency and no public technical or educational reports that support the changes. The uncertainty affects not only enrolled students, but also those who could access these studies in the coming years and who, if the elimination is confirmed, would be left without this educational path in the city of Jaén.
The PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) in the city of Jaén has sided with the families and asked the regional government to reverse its decision. The councilwoman and secretary for Social Policies, Eva FunesShe criticized the regional government for placing the burden of cuts "once again" on public education and, in particular, on resources for students with special educational needs. In her view, eliminating the Specific Basic Vocational Training program in Las Fuentezuelas would mean "leaving Jaén without an essential resource" for guaranteeing a real equality of opportunity.
Growing mobilizations: local rallies and a major event in Jaén
The protests in Las Fuentezuelas have not been limited to a single symbolic demonstration. Over several days, the protests have been repeated. gatherings at 7:45 p.m. at the entrance of the center, coinciding with the start of the school day, to highlight the concern of the families and their rejection of the reorganization of the Specific Basic Vocational Training.
In these demonstrations, USTEA and the families have denounced that the alternatives offered by the Regional Government mainly involve the integration of students into ordinary Basic Vocational Training cycles or its derivation to Transition to Adult and Working Life Programs (PTVAL)They believe that none of these options guarantees either the same level of adaptation or the same graduation opportunities for this type of student.
Union spokespeople have gone further, describing the measure as a "hidden cut" disguised as inclusion. They argue that if a lack of resources is already detected in stages such as preschool or primary school, then the measure should be implemented in a way that promotes inclusion. Special Education (SE) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) In ordinary groups, it is hardly credible that these supports will be effectively multiplied in ordinary Basic Vocational Training.
The protest schedule is not limited to the city center. A large provincial concentration in JaénIn the Plaza de la Constitución, under slogans such as "For an inclusive and dignified education in Andalusia," the families' aim is to bring the conflict to the city's public spaces and make the Las Fuentezuelas case an example of a problem that, they warn, is repeated in other parts of the region.
The voice of families: real inclusion, qualifications and future employment
Much of the debate is based on the testimonies of the families. Parents like David Bañas or David Ibáñez They explained that their children, with autism or other special needs, have found in Basic Vocational Training their first space for true academic and social integration. They speak of young people "more motivated than ever," who They carry out internshipsThey feel useful and begin to imagine a professional future with some autonomy.
These parents insist on several points: that the complete itinerary of the Specific Basic Vocational Training for students already enrolled (including the possibility of repeating a year within legal limits) and that the program be maintained for students who may enroll in the coming years. They fear that a decision made now will leave those who are not yet old enough to access the program, but who are destined to need it, without options.
The main concern revolves around the TitleWhile Basic Vocational Training allows students to obtain a Basic Technician qualification and, in many cases, a Secondary Education Graduate certificate, the PTVAL programs are limited to issuing certifications without the same recognition for public employment or for certain professional categories. For many families, the possibility for their children to aspire to a regular contract, even in entry-level positions, makes the difference between a life with some degree of independence and one of permanent dependence.
Families also point to the emotional impact: they explain that these programs not only provide technical training, but are also a tool for self-esteem, socialization and dignityThat is why they consider the closure of groups that, in their opinion, are functioning as a real bridge to adulthood for young people with special needs to be "outrageous".
Seville and the Andalusian mobilization for Specific Basic Vocational Training
The conflict over Basic Vocational Training is not limited to the province of Jaén. On another front, the Community of Andalusian Families for the Rights of Students with Special Educational Needs has called a rally in Seville, in front of the San Telmo Palace, to denounce the possible disappearance or profound transformation of the Basic Level Vocational Training Cycles (CFGB) aimed at these students throughout the community.
This group denounces that the Specific Basic Vocational Training cycles are designed precisely for students whose level of competence and autonomy It does not allow them to reliably continue a regular cycle, even with adaptations. They argue that when a student does reach those levels, they can already integrate into traditional vocational training; therefore, the existence of a specific modality responds to a real need, not to arbitrary segregation.
In Seville, slogans such as "Not one step back in inclusion" or “No child should be invisible to the government.” The families describe the situation as “critical” and assert that this is not just a sectoral demand, but a matter of human rights and the public school model. They call on Andalusian society to join them, convinced that what is at stake is the future of hundreds of children with special needs.
Among the motivations for mobilizing, they emphasize that Basic Specific Vocational Training is not "just a vocational training course," but the main instrument for their children to be able to develop skills and achieve the most autonomous life possibleThey demand institutional empathy and that any reform be carried out with rigorous reports, participation of the educational community, and guarantees that opportunities for graduation or employment will not be lost.
The case of IES Algazul (Roquetas de Mar): alarm over the Agro-gardening cycle
In the province of Almería, the IES Algazul de Roquetas de Mar It has become another focal point of the mobilization. Teachers, students, and families have gathered at the school entrance to protest the elimination of the Basic Specific Vocational Training cycle. Agrogardening and Floral Arrangements, which would be left out of the offer for the next course within the reorganization that the Board is preparing.
The educational community of this institute describes the possible disappearance of this cycle as a "social and educational drama"They maintain that for many young people with disabilities, this is their "only real way" into the job market. For the past six years, this program has acted as a direct bridge to employment, thanks to agreements with the Roquetas de Mar City Council that have allowed several students to take up positions related to the maintenance of green spaces and other municipal services.
The data they have at the center points to a dozen students enrolledThis figure, far from being marginal, demonstrates to families that there is a clear demand and need. They warn that, as it is the only Basic Vocational Training program in the municipality, its closure would leave a significant number of young people in a situation of "total vulnerability," without a comparable alternative in the surrounding area.
During the protests, banners were displayed with slogans such as "Our education is not up for grabs" and "We demand the preservation of Specific Basic Vocational Training." The underlying message is similar to that heard in Jaén and Seville: the elimination of these programs not only implies an organizational change, but a change of model that could significantly limit expectations of autonomy and employment from a sector of students with special needs.
The position of the Andalusian Regional Government: reorganization, inclusion and resources
In response to the criticism, the Andalusian Regional Government maintains that there is no fixed plan to "sweep away" Basic Specific Vocational Training, but rather a process of review and planning of the vocational training offer which is carried out every year. The Regional Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training emphasizes that they are "studying different alternatives" and that, for the moment, there is no final decision to eliminate the specific basic degrees.
The Andalusian administration assures that the main objective is Improving care through inclusionThe plan involves transitioning from specialized classrooms to mainstream classrooms with specialized support, following an approach that has been progressively implemented in other educational stages. According to their statement, resources for addressing diversity (special education teachers, speech therapists, guidance counselors) will not be reduced, but rather maintained or even redirected to reach more students.
Regarding vocational training for students with special needs, the Ministry notes that programs have been implemented pilot projects To evaluate its functioning, and based on this data, cases have been detected in which approximately half of the students have serious difficulties keeping up with the standard curriculum. This has led, they explain, to a proposed review "cycle by cycle and student by student" to determine whether the current offering is the most appropriate or if it should be adjusted.
Among the options being studied is the creation of Ordinary Basic Levels in centers that did not have themWhile maintaining the resources for addressing diversity inherent in Specific Vocational Training, the aim is to promote inclusion and broaden the available educational options. The administration insists that "there are no, nor will there be, any cuts to resources or opportunities," and that Andalusia has spent several years expanding and strengthening its Vocational Training offerings, especially for vulnerable groups.
Meetings and negotiation: an inclusive model still under debate
Alongside the mobilizations, other events have taken place meetings between families and education officials to try to clarify the direction of these reforms. Representatives of the "Andalusian Families Community for the Rights of Students with Special Educational Needs" have held meetings with the Regional Government's Education Department, where they were informed that the intention is for all students to be able to graduate and remain in the system with resources until the age of 21.
According to the families, the proposal presented to them involves a standard vocational training program with specific places for students with learning difficulties, supported by specialized teachers. However, they emphasize that this proposal is still in the design phase, awaiting a response from the Ministry and subject to administrative deadlines, which fuels the sense of uncertainty as they begin planning for the next academic year.
The administration has described these meetings as "positive and fruitful," stating that all questions from principals, counselors, and parents were answered. They emphasize that the system is in a "period of study and planning" and reiterate that the final offer of vocational training cycles It is finalized at the end of May, shortly before the registration period opens.
Despite these institutional contacts, many families still feel that decisions are being made "without sufficient dialogue" and with delayed communication, as the end of the school year approaches. This lack of clarity fuels fears that, under the guise of inclusion and normalization, a [unclear meaning] is being implemented. a change of model that dilutes or eliminates Basic Specific Vocational Training as it is known today.
A fundamental debate: public school, attention to diversity and the future of work
The mobilizations for Specific Basic Vocational Training are part of a broader debate on the state of public education In Andalusia, the PSOE and trade unions such as USTEA denounce a gradual reduction in school units, an increase in private vocational training programs, and a decline in support for diversity, especially for students with special educational needs.
Unions and opposition parties point out that public vocational training is under strain, with families sometimes forced to assume high costs in private centers or to send their children to other regions to pursue certain studies. In this context, Basic Vocational Training appears as one of the few mechanisms that guarantee a real educational pathway for students who would otherwise be left out of the system.
At the same time, the Andalusian government is placing emphasis on the Quantitative improvements in investment, hiring of professionals, and expansion of the supplyThey insisted that any adjustments would be based on employability criteria, social demand, and suitability to the local area. According to their narrative, the aim would be to find more inclusive approaches without abandoning the objective of ensuring that students with special needs graduate with a qualification that improves their employability.
Between these two visions lies a fundamental question: how to combine the inclusion in mainstream classrooms with the need to offer specific resources, tailored learning pathways, and qualifications with real value in the job market. For many families, the experience with Basic Vocational Training programs demonstrates that, when the right conditions are in place, their children can learn, earn a qualification, and work. They fear that, without these programs, much of that educational progress will be lost.
What is happening in schools like IES Las Fuentezuelas or IES Algazul illustrates a tension that goes beyond a specific course: the struggle between different ways of understanding the inclusive education, the role of public vocational training and budget priorities from the administrations. While the Regional Government defends a reorganization aimed at inclusion in mainstream groups and denies cuts, families, teachers and unions are mobilizing to ensure that Basic Specific Vocational Training remains a stable, visible and guaranteed option, convinced that the educational and professional future of some of the most vulnerable students in the system largely depends on it.
