Mercedes Zarzalejo

Mercedes Zarzalejo is the newly appointed Education Minister of the Community of Madrid. She recently succeeded Emilio Viciana. Zarzalejo is currently newsworthy due to her involvement in key education policy decisions and negotiations within the region. One of her first achievements has been resolving stalled negotiations with teachers in subsidized private schools (concertada) regarding partial retirement, leading to an agreement with unions and employers. Furthermore, Zarzalejo is spearheading a proposal to extend the duration of agreements with concertada schools from 10 to 14 years, signaling a strong commitment from the Ayuso government to bolster private education within the Community of Madrid. This initiative highlights her significance in shaping the future of education policy in the region.