Catalan Teachers Boycott School Trips: The Education Crisis 2026

In Catalonia, more than 1,300 schools have joined a manifesto to halt overnight school trips, known as colònies, for the 2026-2027 academic year. This unprecedented move by teachers is not a lack of enthusiasm but a protest against unpaid extra workload.

The boycott, which started in the Maresme region and spread rapidly, affects over half of Catalonia's public schools. Teachers are demanding better working conditions and compensation for the voluntary time they spend on these trips.

Why Teachers Are Refusing to Lead School Trips

The core issue is that overnight trips have historically fallen on teachers' free time without additional pay. The Catalan Department of Education offered 50 euros per night per teacher, a measure that would cost between six and ten million euros. However, many educators see this as a temporary fix that fails to address underlying problems.

Teachers argue that the workload associated with these trips is significant and that the compensation does not reflect the responsibility and time involved. The protest is not organized by unions but emerged from teacher assemblies, highlighting the grassroots nature of the movement.

The Impact on the Educational Leisure Sector

The boycott is already having a severe impact on businesses that provide educational leisure activities. The employers' association ACELLEC, which includes entities like Fundesplai, estimates an 80% drop in overnight camp reservations for this course.

Cultural institutions such as museums, theaters, and natural spaces also fear being severely affected if the trend continues. These organizations rely on school visits for a significant portion of their revenue and educational outreach. The background to this story is set out in Termtime Holidays Impact on Education and Teachers Families. A related thread runs through Asturian Teachers: 300+ Await a Non-Existent Exam. Earlier coverage in Catalonia Moves to Ban AI in Schools as Europe Weighs Similar Rules shows how the argument developed.

Key Takeaways from the Boycott

• Over 1,300 schools have joined the manifesto to stop overnight trips.
• Teachers are protesting unpaid extra workload and demanding better working conditions.
• The Department of Education offered 50 euros per night per teacher, which was rejected as insufficient.
• The educational leisure sector faces an 80% drop in reservations, threatening many businesses.
• The movement is grassroots, not union-led, and has spread rapidly across Catalonia.

Comparison of Positions: Teachers vs. Government

What's Next for Schools and Teachers?

The standoff continues as the government seeks to negotiate with teachers. The outcome will depend on whether the Department of Education can offer a more comprehensive solution that addresses teachers' concerns beyond financial compensation. A closer look at the same subject appears in Stop Ofsted Inspections Harming Teachers: A Call for Reform. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Robot Teachers in Classrooms: Why Kids Won't Respect Them. The same theme surfaces in Cool UK's Overheating Schools: Tips for Parents and Teachers, which takes a different angle.

For now, thousands of students are starting the school year without the traditional trips that many consider a rite of passage. The situation remains fluid, and stakeholders are watching closely for developments. Context on how this played out before sits in Triyoga Collapse: 100 Unpaid Teachers and Bailiff Crisis. A companion piece, Internal Exclusion Triples in England Schools: Disadvantaged Hit, approaches the same subject from another angle.