Catalonia launches pilot program combatting disinformation in schools

Catalonia has launched a new pilot program to combat disinformation and fake news in schools. 

The Bofill Foundation and Verificat, an independent non-profit fact-checking platform, have promoted a pilot test called 'Centres Desfake' that will take place in a dozen educational centers from now until the spring of 2024.

The aim is to build spaces of trust in media and empower teachers to help students process the large quantity of content they receive.

Across Spain, 74% of teachers think that students are misinformed, according to a report by the Luca de Tena Foundation.

"Access to technology must be a source of opportunities and not a tool to encourage manipulation, polarization or demotivation for learning," explained those responsible for the project.

Widespread access to technology and accelerated use of technology in education has made disinformation a relevant and urgent phenomenon to address in classrooms.

The Bofill Foundation and Verificat, with the support of the Department of Education, have promoted this new project which could eventually be extended to the rest of Catalan schools.

This was explained by Cristina Figueras, head of the 'Centres Desfake' program, who explained that teachers taking part in this course will receive a certificate in teaching digital competence.

Local and international leaders

The pilot test begins this Wednesday, October 25, with a session titled 'I don't buy it: we build spaces of media trust' held at the Social Hub in Barcelona.

International and local leaders will participate in different sessions and conferences to discuss information and media literacy. They will also experiment with educational practices that are already being carried out with children and young people across Catalonia.

Among those taking part are the director of the American Media Wise project, Alex Mahadevan, the EUIPO Observatory's educational dissemination expert, Kari Kivien, as well as members of the Catalan Corporation for Audiovisual Media (CCMA).

The launch of this pilot test coincides with UNESCO's initiative World Media Literacy Week, held from October 23 to 25.