The C2 level of Catalan will become mandatory for teaching positions in Catalonia in 2027, a measure that will be brought to the sectoral table this Thursday. Unions are calling for free training.
The teacher exams for 2027 in Catalonia will require the C2 level of Catalan as a mandatory requirement, according to La Razón based on union sources. This requirement was already included in the Education Law of Catalonia (LEC) of 2009, but it had never been applied, and proficiency in the language was considered a merit.
The proposal will be taken to the sectoral table this Thursday, where it will be suggested that the requirement be either accredited C2 or passing the corresponding test. The expectation is that the exams will take place in the spring of 2027.
The LEC establishes that to enter the public teaching service, one must demonstrate sufficient and adequate knowledge of Catalan, both oral and written, at the C2 level. The Department of Education announced in 2022 that it would require this level from new teachers starting in 2024, but the deadline has been postponed.
In June, the Government of Catalonia relaxed the requirement to access the pool of substitute teachers and extended the period to certify the qualification, although it denied that this represented a reduction in the requirement. For those wishing to enter Catalan classrooms, the change means preparing for the C2 before applying.
The union Ustec demands that the requirement be accompanied by a free training programme during working hours, with enough places for all staff to access. According to the union, the official language schools do not offer free C2 training.
In a statement, Ustec laments the way the change has been communicated:
“the majority of the union learned about it through the media”
The union rejects that a structural issue has been addressed in the monitoring committee of the agreement.
Regarding the exams, Ustec recalls the Department's commitment to call for 5,500 vacant positions, in addition to those that still do not have a call. The union also believes that improving Catalan in the education system will not come solely from this measure.
Therefore, it calls for a debate with all involved parties and
“structural measures, resources, and policies to promote Catalan”
The next step will be the sectoral table this Thursday, where it will be seen if the proposal moves forward.
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