The Education Law project is going through its penultimate process with the exclusive support of PNV and PSE-EE

This Wednesday, the Education Law project passed its penultimate trial in the Basque Parliament, with the sole support of the groups supporting the Government (PNV and PSE-EE), while EH Bildu, Elkarrekin Podemos-IUPP and the Mixed Group voted against.

Parliament’s Education Committee has approved the opinion on this bill, which is expected to receive the opinion final approval of the House during a plenary session to be held 21st of December.

The advice, which includes the amendment that was agreed to PNV and PSE-EE to maintain the current language models in the future law was approved by eight votes in favor (PNV and PSE) and seven against (EH Bildu, E-Podemos, PP and Grupo Mixto). The absolute majority of the ‘Yeltzales’ and socialists in the Chamber guarantees the final approval of the text by the plenary, despite the rejection of the entire opposition.

One of the most controversial aspects of the text is the reference to the linguistic models (in Basque, bilingual and Spanish) in which the current system is structured and which, according to an amendment agreed by the PNV and the PSE-EE, will be maintained in the future law.

In this sense, the opinion indicates that the language project of each center should be structured ‘within a common framework that integrates the recognized rights and the principles established in the Statute of Gernika and in the Basque Standardization Act’ and ‘on the basis of the system of current language models”.

In any case, it is specified that any linguistic project must be designed “so that any development or update of said models is carried out through regulatory development, guaranteeing the same rights and principles.”

In turn, it is indicated that centers should ‘plan language learning, its use and students’ positive attitudes towards it, taking into account the starting point and the sociolinguistic and socio-economic characteristics of each environment, including its specificities of the environment. students and their families, ensuring that students acquire the language level and necessary skills required at the end of each educational stage”.

Another issue that has caused the most criticism from the opposition concerns its handling public financing of private centers through the concert system.

The opinion indicates that the centers providing the Basque public education service – public and private with a concert in force – “must guarantee sexual and gender freedom and secularism”, and must also be governed by a series of “beginnings”; among them “non-discrimination, transparency, lack of profit motive, attention to vulnerable students and diversity, and the commitment against segregation and equal opportunities.”

PNV

During the debate, the PNV MP said Gorka Alvarez has assured that the text that Parliament will approve is “better” than the project that the government sent to the House, as it contains contributions and “improvements”.

EH Bildu

The EH Bildu MP Ikoitz Arrese He emphasized that “few people can doubt the commitment” of his group to “getting the best possible legislation.” In this sense, he has stated that the education pact reached last year by more than 90% of parliament – ​​​​PNV, EH Bildu, PSE and E-Vamos – has generated “a new illusion” in society, and has indicated that it is ‘a new illusion’. “shame” that this whole process ended in “disappointment”.

PSE-EE

The PSE-EE parliamentarian Mary Jesus Saint Joseph has criticized the fact that EH Bildu “acted with a double face during the negotiation process”. “When you negotiate with the intention of reaching an agreement and getting closer to each other, you don’t call the press,” he explained, before accusing the coalition of having “conducted a parallel negotiation in which proposals were announced, orders were issued launched and the press got moving.” .

Elkarrekin Podemos-IU

The parliamentarian of Elkarrekin Podemos-IU Isabel González He has stated that this law “is a missed opportunity” as it will not serve to “protect and strengthen” public schools. On the contrary, he has warned that the project will “consolidate the high degree of privatization of education” so that the public school “will be the biggest loser.”

PP

The PP parliamentarian Carmelo Barrio He has denounced that the law will represent “a step backwards in our education system” and regrets that none of the 56 amendments tabled by his group have been accepted. Furthermore, he has denounced that “education cannot be articulated around a Basque backbone.”

He Mixed group (Ciudadanos-Vox) has not intervened in the debate.