London and Berlin to open Catalan schools from next academic year

London and Berlin will see their first Catalan schools open for those aged 1 to 16 to learn as if the students were based in Catalonia. From the next academic year, the education department will offer such courses at the London Catalan school and the Berlin CatEscola academic center.

Students will reach B2 or C1 levels in the Catalan language once they pass all their classes. The goal is to "organize and make stronger" the Catalan education system abroad.

"This has been one of the main requests by Catalans living abroad, especially where those locations the majority of residents are young people with mixed couples and small children who do not want to lose the connection with the language and the Catalan culture," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Students will get the B2 or C1 level depending on their age, and the courses will be fully certified and recognized in universities and public institutions.

Those wishing to learn the B2 level can do so from the 2023-24 academic year, while C1 students will have to wait for the 2024-25 course.

Overall, there are 42 Catalan groups abroad offering Catalan language courses to 1,100 non-university students.