Starting in 2025, Catalonia (Catalunya) will introduce new requirements for future teachers. To qualify for positions in the region’s educational institutions, candidates will now need to demonstrate proficiency in Catalan at the C2 level—the highest level on the European scale. In addition, candidates are expected to have strong English language skills. These changes became possible after the court lifted the temporary suspension of key provisions of the language decree adopted in 2024.
Previously, the new regulations had been suspended due to legal proceedings, but some of the standards have now become mandatory again. Specifically, this concerns the requirement to certify proficiency in Catalan (or Aranese for the Vall d’Aran) for anyone applying for inspector or director positions, as well as for those competing for vacancies or seeking promotions. The Catalan Ministry of Education (Departament d’Educació) has already announced that it will begin assessing the impact of these changes on the education system.
Court decisions and language policy
The language decree, adopted in May 2024, was temporarily suspended following a complaint by the Association of Bilingual Schools. In September of the same year, the court partially annulled 11 articles of the document relating to the status of Catalan and Aranese as primary languages of instruction and administration in schools. The judges ruled that these articles did not sufficiently reflect the role of the Spanish language, which could lead to a violation of students’ rights to receive education in Spanish.
However, requirements for Catalan proficiency and measures to promote the language outside of schools remained in force. The court refused to repeal articles that concern the official status of Catalan in educational administration and the need to certify language proficiency for employment. After this, advocacy groups supporting the protection of Catalan secured a review of the temporary restrictions, and the court agreed that the remaining provisions could be implemented.
What will change for teachers and schools
Starting in 2025, all new teachers seeking employment in public and private schools in Catalonia will be required to present a C2 level certificate in Catalan. This also applies to those planning to become inspectors or principals, as well as candidates participating in promotion competitions. For current educators, the transition to the new requirements may begin in 2027, pending a decision by the ministry.
Other provisions of the decree have also been reinstated: schools are now required to conduct activities to strengthen the use of Catalan among staff and to organize language promotion projects beyond the school premises. The Ministry of Education becomes the final authority in approving schools’ language plans, which relieves principals of responsibility and protects them from potential lawsuits related to the proportion of Spanish language used in education.
Additional measures and outlook
Among the restored articles is a ban on changing language plans in the middle of the school year, even by court order. Civil society organizations are demanding not only the implementation of the new rules, but also sanctions for teachers who fail to follow the approved language plans. There is also a proposal for such plans to take into account the specific linguistic situation of each district, and adult learning centers would be required to include Catalan courses in their programs.
The Ministry of Education emphasizes that the new requirements will not affect competitions and exams for teachers already announced for March 2026. Thus, the changes will apply only to those who start working or seek promotion after the new rules take effect.
