Valencian language plan to go ahead despite protests

VINCENT MARZA has sparked new outrage among parents.

The Education councillor for the Valencian region apparently plans to push ahead with the controversial plurlingüismo plan to increase the amount of the Valenciana language spoken in schools despite strong opposition.

“He doesn’t care,” said Kristin Tennebø, a Norwegian mum of three who represents the Idiomas y Educacion campaign group. It comes after the regional court of justice temporarily suspended the scheme at the beginning of June, while the national Education Ministry has also waded in, referring to it as “a source of discrimination in the exercise of the right to education.”

Alicante Provincial Council has also offered its support and recently lodged an appeal with the regional authority. Under the proposed new rules, the number of classes taught in Spanish will gradually be reduced, although there are three different levels: Basic, intermediate and advanced – with schools required to choose one depending on their needs.

At basic level Spanish remains the standard language, at intermediate there is supposed to be an even split between Spanish and Valenciana, while at advanced the latter becomes the principle language.

As reported in the Euro Weekly News issue 1663, outraged parents claim that not all schools have been given an option, with many having the advanced level “forced” onto them.

For more information visit www.idiomasyeducacion.es.