Potential Change in Dates for 2026 Teacher Exams to Avoid Clashing with End of School Year

The Department of Education is in negotiations with unions to adjust the dates for the 2026 teacher exams to prevent them from coinciding with the end of the school year, according to a statement from the department led by José Antonio Rovira.

The Director General of Teaching Staff, Pablo Ortega, sent a circular this Friday with three proposed dates, "thus responding to the unions' request." "The aim is to reduce the workload if the exams coincide with the end of the school year, which has been common for years," he noted.

Ortega highlighted that the 2022 teacher exams took place between June 11 and July 4, with the school year ending on June 21, making the dates similar to this year. In this context, the proposed plan includes three time frames for the 2026 exams: starting the tests in April and concluding in June, following the Catalan model; starting in September and resolving in the spring of 2027, following the Basque model; or starting in February and concluding in May.

The Director General explained that the third proposal is an "intermediate" solution, where the start point has been set "to allow sufficient action time and considering the holiday calendar of the Valencian Community for 2026."

"The aim is to avoid disadvantages for candidates from the province of Castellón, as the Magdalena festivities are from March 7 to 15, and for candidates from the province of Valencia, as the Fallas are from March 1 to 19. Additionally, the celebration of Easter and Santa Faz in Alicante has been considered," he explained.

Moreover, in this third proposal regarding the tribunals, the Department of Education would establish a "proportionate" number based on the number of candidates and the release time. The goal is for them to operate in the morning, focusing on the defence phase of the program. This schedule would be "similar in duration to that of any teacher." Members would be released and replaced in their centres from mid-February until the end of the selection process.

Regarding the advantages of this third proposal, the Department of Education highlights that tribunal members can dedicate themselves "exclusively" to this task, "without needing to be concerned with their teaching obligations, making the process more objective."

"On the other hand, by reducing the number of tribunals and giving them exclusive dedication, greater coordination capacity of the technical commission and selection committees is expected. In short, a fairer and more equitable process," Ortega concluded.