The Parliament has not wasted the opportunity provided by the monograph on education to put aside political disputes and agree on specific and scheduled actions to reactivate education in Catalonia. All political parties voted in favor of the education reactivation plan with the exception of Vox, which abstained. And ERC, in a demonstration that the new climate of cordiality offered by councilor Anna Simó is in earnest, reached agreements with the main political forces, with the exception of the conservative side.
The plenary session was used to vote in favor of a national pact in defense of schools and the Catalan language “in view of the systematic attacks of the Spanish State” and “the risks of the extreme right”, in a joint proposal of Junts and ERC, with 2 votes in favor of En Comú Podemos and the abstention of the CUP.
In addition, at the proposal of the PSC, the Catalan Chamber has approved promoting a Catalan pact for education before the end of 2023 with the aim of “restoring trust with the educational community” through a road map about education
Priority objectives were already defined yesterday that must mark the remainder of the Government’s legislative term in the field of education: dropping out of school and improving the skills of Catalan students, including reading comprehension and learning English . ERC, Junts, PSC and the commons presented a negotiated proposal, voted by the majority of parties, which urges the deployment of a “compensation plan” to reduce students with low academic performance and increase high-performing students to the level of the European average
For this reason, more resources and training are proposed for teachers, those who are being trained at university and those who are active, and also for families.
In fact, reading comprehension and the promotion of reading are the subject of specific attention with school libraries which is required by the education law and the preparation of a specific plan from January 2024 in the centers with the worst results, and before the end of the course for the rest.
At the proposal of the PSC, the requirement is introduced that young people achieve B2 at the age of 18 before 2030. And attention is drawn to the accreditation through the official language school of English proficiency when the ‘ESO.
This set of proposals has also included the increase of 0-3 places and an improvement plan for the FP.
Regarding school dropout, measures are being rushed for 2023-2024, with a set of “prioritized, specified, scheduled and budgeted” actions to reduce the rate, which is currently at 17%, by below 9% in 2030.
And starting with the centers that accumulate a greater failure, with more investment for 25% of centers that accumulate 50% of dropouts in their classrooms.
And it includes the creation of an interdepartmental committee of experts with a data system between all administrations to follow up. It advocates sharing student data with the municipalities (at the moment, 4th graders are shared), to be able to accompany and guide them if they do not enroll in training after leaving secondary school.
Special focus on the most vulnerable, due to their easy disengagement from school, whether due to socio-economic or health issues (disorders, disability or emotional well-being) so we are alerted to work together with the municipalities and various Government departments for detection or support . And more counselors at the centers.
On the other hand, inclusive education is promoted, with 100 million for support professionals by September 2023, and more resources for mental health centers.
