Language, identity and education policy in Spain ’s Basque country: Part 2

[Harold Schiffman]

Language, identity and education policy in Spain’s Basque country: Part 2
April 12, 3:46 PM ·

As I mentioned in Part 1, the language debate taking place in the
Basque Country of Spain is more than one about culture versus economy.
 The status of Basque as a language is tied closely to Basque
nationalism and the fight for sovereignty.  The Basque Country of
Spain enjoys a great degree of autonomy from the rest of Spain, though
not enough for Basque Nationalists who want nothing short of absolute
sovereignty.  While not representative of all Basque Nationalists, the
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), a pro-independence terrorist
organization, has been the darker face of the independence movement.

Although the separatist movement has lost some steam in recent years,
it remains an important force in Spanish politics.  Basque separatists
have long argued for their right to self-determination as a separate
ethnic group with their own language and culture.  Surely a sovereign
country retains the right to choose and promote its own language?
Given the Basque country’s semi-autonomous status and current
demographics, that has been a point of frustration for many.

Many native Spanish speakers in the Basque Country feel frustrated
with the Basque language requirement for civil service jobs, arguing
that some professionals such as doctors should be focusing their time
and energy on learning about disease and medicine rather than a second
language.  Foreign language requirements have aroused public
discontent in other regions of Spain as well.  Protests were recently
held in opposition of a government decision to make knowledge of
Catalan mandatory for civil service jobs in the Cataluña region.

While not recognized as such by the federal government, Basque is a
co-official language along with Spanish in the Basque Country of
Spain.  The Basque Country government strongly encourages bilingualism
among its citizens.  Under current policy all civil servants are
required to speak Basque.  The government has even taken to
encouraging business owners to encourage their employees to learn
Basque if they do not already know it.  Educational policy is geared
toward the same goal as well.

The Basque Country of Spain currently has three educational models
from which parents are obliged to choose for their children.  In Model
A, all classes are taught in Spanish, except for language classes;
Basque language classes are required.  In Model B, some subjects are
taught in Basque while others are taught in Spanish.  In Model D, all
classes are taught in Basque; Spanish language classes are required.
In all three models English language classes are a required part of
the curriculum.  Some schools have even been testing a new trilingual
education model where subjects are taught in Basque, Spanish and
English.  Over the past several years, the Basque Nationalist led
government has been closing Model A schools due to reportedly low
demand.

The need for bilingualism appears to be shared by many, though there
is disagreement about the languages.  Many native Spanish speakers see
Basque as a language with marginal utility and would prefer their
children to be taught English instead.

Public policy as it relates to language, however, may see some changes
in light of recent political developments.  After 30 years of
governance by the Basque Nationalist Party (or by Basque Nationalist
Party-led coalitions), the People’s Party (PP) – Spain’s main
right-wing party, and the Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE)
have formed a governing coalition that is set to begin governing
starting mid-May of this year.  Exactly what this means for language
policy is yet to be seen, although a joint-statement of policy goals
agreed to by both governing parties was recently issued.

The joint release clearly states the new government’s support for
freedom of choice for parents among educational models.  It also
states the parties’ support for bilingualism as official government
policy whereby all students are to be bilingual, though their parents
retain the right to choose their educational path towards that end.
Only time will tell if such policies will in effect create a bilingual
citizenry.  The only other question remaining is: Have they chosen the
right languages?

http://www.examiner.com/x-5226-Portland-Cultural-Travel-Examiner~y2009m4d12-Language-identity-and-education-policy-in-Spains-Basque-country-Part-2

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