Valencian Government Implements New School Inspection Rules to Enforce 'Ideological Neutrality'

• The Valencian government has introduced new regulations to enforce 'ideological neutrality' in schools, prompting widespread pushback from educators.
• The amendments grant education inspectors new powers to monitor teaching materials and activities for alleged indoctrination.
• A new external reporting channel allows families or third parties to lodge complaints against teachers for perceived breaches of neutrality.
• Teachers' unions and inspector associations have condemned the move as a tool for censorship and a 'witch hunt' against pedagogical independence.

Legislative Changes

• The regional government modified Decree 80/2017 (articles 155 and 156) through the July budget accompaniment law.
• Inspectors are now mandated to actively supervise school activities to ensure they are 'completely detached from any type of indoctrination.'
• The term 'ideological neutrality' is loosely defined, leaving it open to broad and potentially discriminatory interpretation by officials.

Union and Professional Opposition

• Unions such as STEPV, CGT Ensenyament, and CCOO argue the law violates state-level protections regarding academic freedom and children's rights.
• Educators fear the rules will target subjects like feminist studies, LGTBI diversity, democratic memory, and climate change, which are essential parts of a critical curriculum.
• The Association of Education Inspectors of the Valencian Country (ADIDE-PV) expressed concern over 'legal insecurity' and stated that these measures sow distrust in schools.
• Critics argue that the policy forces teachers into self-censorship, limits curriculum depth, and replaces professional educational guidance with ideological control.