A new round of debate has erupted in Catalonia over the status of the Catalan language in educational institutions. After the High Court of Catalonia (TSJC) invalidated 11 articles of the recently adopted language decree, the regional government has come under pressure from both political opponents and the public.
The disputed provisions granted Catalan and Aranese (in the Aran Valley) the status of primary languages of instruction, while Spanish (Castilian) was designated as an additional language. The judges ruled that this wording disrupted the balance between languages and did not ensure sufficient presence of Spanish in the educational process. As a result, part of the decree passed in May last year was annulled, although the document never entered into force due to a temporary suspension.
Nevertheless, the region’s key language policy principles remain in effect thanks to other laws, particularly the Catalonia Education Law and emergency regulations adopted in 2022. However, these documents are also now under review by the Constitutional Court, adding further uncertainty to the future of language regulation in schools.
The head of the regional Department of Education, Esther Niubó, stated that the government does not intend to back down and is already preparing a cassation appeal. She emphasized that protecting the Catalan language will remain a priority, and the language itself will continue to be supported not only in educational institutions but also in public life. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of budget discussions and pressure from the Junts party, the authorities are forced to seek compromises and demonstrate determination on the language issue.
In addition to language disputes, other education issues were discussed in parliament. In particular, the opposition strongly criticized the reduction in the number of social educators and integrators—this year, there are 130 fewer due to the end of funding from a European program. The authorities promised to partially offset this with new contracts, but deputies insist that the loss of specialists will negatively affect support for vulnerable students.
Another source of discontent was errors in the allocation of teaching positions, which led to a repeat competition and the dismissal of one of the department’s leaders. The opposition is demanding explanations regarding personnel decisions and transparency of the investigation; however, details have not yet been disclosed.
Overall, the situation in Catalonia’s education sector remains tense. Authorities have pledged to protect the Catalan language and improve the quality of education, but they face criticism and the need to respond quickly to emerging challenges. In the coming months, the region will not only have to defend its language policy in court, but also address internal issues within the education system.
