MEPs' draft report calls for Catalan and Spanish to be given 'equal' treatment in schools

The draft report following MEPs' fact-finding mission to Catalan schools between December 18 and 20 recommends that Catalan and Spanish be given "equal" treatment in classrooms. 

The report, seen by the Catalan News Agency (ACN), will be debated by the European Parliament's Petitions Committee on Wednesday. 

It states that the right to receive education in Spanish "is enshrined in the Spanish Constitution" and that the authorities must "ensure that children are not being discriminated against." 

"The education system in Catalonia should give equal treatment to both Spanish and Catalan as languages of education," the report says. It also speaks of "intimidation" and "hate speech" against families who demanded via the courts that 25% of classes be taught in Spanish, in accordance with a legal ruling. 

Catalan government dismisses report

The spokesperson for the Catalan government, Patrícia Plaja, dismissed the draft report as "partial," adding that it is based on "a bunch of lies."

Despite not knowing the details of the document advanced by the Catalan News Agency, Plaja said the report springs "no surprise" in its content, saying it is based on misconceptions about the Catalan school system. 

Plaja lamented that for some time the language and the school model have been used to "create a false story of persecution" of Spanish speakers in Catalonia. 

Fact-finding mission 

A group of eleven MEPs traveled in December to analyze Catalonia's longstanding language immersion model, where students are taught in Catalan, except for when teaching other languages and literature. 

The fact-finding mission was mainly made up of members of the right and far right in the European Parliament, as it was boycotted by MEPs from the social democratic, green and left groupings, who criticized its "political bias." 

They will therefore not be able to add amendments to the text, although they can add annexes to the final recommendations. 

The report calls on the Spanish government to "closely monitor if, in the organisation of education systems in Catalonia, a balanced content of teaching languages is respected and, an equal treatment to co-officials languages is given." 

MEPs propose that the Spanish government "reviews" how Catalonia acts to guarantee "minimum standards" of classes in each of the languages and point out that an independent analysis of Catalonia's linguistic immersion model should be carried out. 

"This study, carried out by independent experts, should provide recommendations to lawmakers and stakeholders on how to establish a balanced content of teaching languages," the draft report says.  

It also addresses the Catalan government, calling for it to "improve communication and trust" with the families who have taken the language immersion model to the courts. The executive should begin building "constructive dialogue" with the affected families. 

25% in Spanish 

The report laments the fact that the ruling by the Catalan High Court that 25% of classes should be in Spanish has not been applied and states that "respect for the rule of law is one of the pillars of the European Union." 

It expresses concern that "citizens, due to the lack of action to implement the ruling, will have to seek legal redress individually." 

It also expresses concern over "social exclusion or, in some cases, intimidation and bullying against children and parents" who have defended increasing the number of teaching hours in Spanish. 

"We condemn the fact that they have been the victims of hate speech, and we ask the regional authorities to closely monitor this unacceptable behavior." 

Court cases and language immersion 

There have been several court cases over language policy in Catalan public schools. In October 2023, Catalonia's High Court (TSJC) recognized the right of a student at the Turó del Drac school in Canet de Mar (40km north of Barcelona) to be taught another core subject in Spanish, in addition to Spanish language lessons. 

Catalonia's language immersion system – where Catalan is the sole language of teaching in classrooms (apart from language classes) – is designed to ensure that all students become fluent in Catalan as well as Spanish.