Educational and multilingual revolution
The current Botanist government has implemented a new educational model in the Valencian Country, which has been controversial. This system, designed to foster plurilingualism, has been criticized by many who argue that their results have not been satisfactory. Joan Fuster, with a remarkable acuity, warned that bilingualism is often a trap, with a dominant language that eclipses others. The current reality seems to corroborate his words, with Valencian struggling to stay in an increasingly small space.
The dilemma of linguistic choice
The education system in the Valencian Country is significantly different from the Catalan model, which offers a single linguistic option. In contrast, families can choose between educational models that vary in their inclusion of Valencian. This flexibility, which in theory should be an advantage, has allowed the centers with a greater offer in Valencian to gain prestige and, with it, social support.
Protests and mobilizations
In 2021, more than seventy institutes came together in a manifesto expressing their concern for the future of Valencian in education. The restlessness was palpable: if the parties defending the language held key positions, what would happen to their future? The answer to this question began to draw with the introduction of the new law of ‘Educational Freedom’, which has been seen as an attempt to displace the Valencian in favor of Spanish.
Language query: an unexpected turn
With the aim of measuring support for Valencian, the Government proposed a consultation that, contrary to its expectations, turned out to be a turning point. Thanks to the mobilization of platforms such as ‘Platform for the Language’, families were informed and actively participated, which surprised the current executive.
Positive results for Valencian
The results revealed that Valencian enjoys considerable support, exceeding 50% in general and reaching 68% in areas with a historically Valencian -speaking population. These data indicate a significant change in the demand for schooling in Valencian, including counties where the Spanish predominated previously.
The future of the Valencian language
Not only did the consultation reaffirm support for Valencian, but also set a change in the educational landscape, with the increase in the number of concerted schools that opt for this language. Cities like Elche and Benidorm have shown a significant interest, with percentages that promise a more hopeful future.
Mobilization and commitment
Campaigns such as ‘The language is not touched’ and ‘Valencian choice’ have been central to mobilizing society. The image of green t -shirts every Thursday has become a symbol of resistance, showing that Valencian society is not willing to give up its language. With the support of families and teachers, the demand for schooling in Valencian has become clearer and visible.
This new stage represents not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to reaffirm the Valencian identity. The Valencian people, with heavy voices, has made clear their commitment to the Valencian, demonstrating that their language is a heritage that deserves to be protected and celebrated.