Uxía García passed the assessments but a medical tribunal deemed her unfit, and now she will await justice to become a civil servant.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, January 21. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI Canarias) has called upon the Government of the Canary Islands this Tuesday to implement “clear and transparent” criteria to ensure that no instances of discrimination against individuals with disabilities occur in the realm of public service access.
This appeal follows the recent incident involving Uxía García, a teacher with a 66% visual impairment, who, after successfully passing the examinations for the Teacher Corps in the Canary Islands in 2024, was deemed “unfit” to carry out Therapeutic Pedagogy duties by Medical Inspection.
García, who had previously worked at the Domínguez Alfonso School of Early Childhood and Primary Education in La Orotava, faced a precautionary dismissal, which has been temporarily overturned thanks to the intervention of the Ministry of Education, although she remains unable to be declared an official until the contentious-administrative process is resolved.
In a statement, CERMI Canarias asserts that this situation exemplifies “flagrant discrimination” against individuals with disabilities, violating the Spanish Constitution (articles 14 and 49) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
They believe that the absence of “clear and objective” protocols in the selection and evaluation processes creates circumstances of “discrimination and arbitrariness, infringing upon the principle of equal opportunities.”
Moreover, despite the stipulations of Decree 8/2011, dated January 27, which governs access to public employment for individuals with disabilities, the necessary reasonable adjustments to ensure their work performance under equal conditions are not being implemented.
Irregularities have also been identified in the criteria employed by the Medical Inspection, jeopardising the rights of applicants with disabilities by overlooking medical, administrative and professional reports that support their capabilities, the organisation notes.
In light of this situation, CERMI Canarias urges the Government of the Canary Islands to develop a specific protocol that governs the evaluation and selection procedures for individuals with disabilities, with the intention of ensuring equal opportunities and preventing discrimination.
This protocol should encompass “objective criteria and reasonable adjustments” consistent with the principles of the UN Convention and current legislation, they emphasise.
Furthermore, they propose a review and update of the guides and regulations applied by Medical Inspection, ensuring that they address the actual needs of individuals with disabilities and uphold their rights.
CERMI Canarias also underscores the necessity of establishing an effective dialogue channel between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Function, and the organisations that represent people with disabilities, in order to coordinate actions and ensure adherence to regulations.
Simultaneously, they highlight the need for legal and administrative support to be provided to those affected, ensuring their advocacy in any contentious administrative procedures that may arise.
