Canary Islands guarantee free help for teachers who are attacked

Teachers working in state schools in the Canary Islands who are attacked on the job will in future receive free psychological and legal support. The law to strengthen teachers‘ authority comes into force on Friday. Those affected are entitled to immediate support in the event of attacks, threats, coercion, bullying and cyberbullying, provided the incident is work-related.

The Canary Islands Parliament has approved the framework for all non-university, publicly funded schools. The Head of Government, Fernando Clavijo, signed the bill on 30 October; the text is published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands. The legislature justifies the move on the grounds that society is increasingly failing to recognise the authority of teachers, which is putting a strain on the atmosphere in schools.

However, the protection is not entirely new, as the Canary Islands Education Act of 2014 already guaranteed protection, as well as psychological and legal support, to teachers in state schools. Their authority is now being regulated more systematically, and they are to be afforded greater legal certainty. The Ministry of Education of the Canary Islands Government is to implement this and must set up a dedicated helpdesk for the purpose.

Canary Islands: Ministry of Education sets up support centre for teachers

In the event of any conflicts arising at school, the new administrative unit is to advise and protect teaching staff, and this includes supplementary programmes and extracurricular activities. The Ministry must also develop protection protocols and reduce the administrative burden in day-to-day school life. The Government and the Ministry of Education may issue any further regulations necessary for the implementation of the Act.

Not every school is subject to the regulations in the same way. Private schools that do not receive public funding continue to determine their own internal procedures and rules of conduct. At state-funded private schools, teachers‘ authority applies only insofar as it safeguards the public educational mandate, and the law does not provide for any entitlement to legal or psychological assistance or to cover for civil liability in such cases.

However, protection is being extended to administrative and support staff at the Ministry of Education working in state schools. Should any incidents occur whilst they are at work, the same rules regarding legal assistance, psychological support, protection and compensation will apply to these employees.