Dec
7
Spain’s language debate
Filed Under EN
Today
Spain’s language debate
Children are to be made to learn more Spanish under a new law proposed by the country’s Education Minister. In Barcelona, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela, classes have long been conducted in the regional languages of Catalan, Basque or Galician. In Catalonian schools, speaking Spanish can be limited to as little as two hours a week.
In the Basque Country, Basque is at least 20 per cent of the curriculum but can be up to 40 per cent, as is the case in Galicia.
Now, in a draft Bill to go before Parliament, all regions will have to guarantee at least equal teaching of Spanish and regional languages.
If regional governments cannot, or will not, comply with the law then parents can force regional authorities to pay for private classes for children’s Spanish.
The Times reported that the move has caused outrage in Catalonia, where defence of the language has long been held sacred by nationalists. Artur Mas, the Catalan regional President who is leading a campaign for independence, called on all parties yesterday to reject the new law.
BACK
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.