Quartell wraps up Aula Oberta with a debate in defence of public education
The Aula Oberta (Open Classroom) initiative closed its Quartell edition with a day of debate, poetry and a round table on the future of Valencian-language public education, following a month-long teachers' strike in the area.
The closing event brought together teachers, students, families and residents of Quartell — a village of 1,810 people in the Camp de Morvedre comarca — for an event combining personal testimony, manifesto readings and a panel of educators from different school stages. Topics included school infrastructure, class-size reduction, inclusion resources and the status of Valencian as a language of instruction.
The event is closely linked to a broader labour dispute: the teachers' strike in the Les Valls municipalities (Quartell, Faura, Benavites, Quart de les Valls and Benifairó de les Valls) lasted roughly one month and peaked on 11 June with a march of 500 people through five towns, organised by unions STEPV and CCOO. A poetry recital under the motto «Cor verd de dignitat» (Green heart of dignity) closed the day. Aula Oberta runs with support from Quartell's local council and aims to bring knowledge out of the classroom and into the community. According to El Periódico de Aquí, the initiative will return next academic year.