ELA denounces that the Government will suspend the Irale programme for the Euskaldunization of teachers

The ELA unionhas denounced that, from the next school year, the Basque Government is suspending the Irale programme for the Euskaldunization of teachers, adding that it has known the decision "through the media and staff. It is a very serious decision, both in procedural terms and in terms of the content of the decision", so they will ask the Department of Education to "withdraw its intention" at the negotiating table scheduled for next Thursday.

ELA today issued a note denouncing the latest decisions taken by the Basque Government on the Euskera Jaurlaritza and warning that, in addition to the decision on Irale, there will be no Euskaldunization plan in Vocational Training. It says that  is still "not guaranteed" that there will be "resources or planning" for the Euskaldunization of workers.

In addition, he regrets that the Government intends to "make language profiles more flexible instead of Euskaldunizing staff."  The project to adapt the award process at the beginning of the course prioritizes teachers with a lower level euskera in some positions, according to the note.  "It is a privilege not to have a profile; to have a disadvantage."

ELA is considering "agreeing to respond" with its affiliation and educational staff to all these measures "in the opposite direction to Euskaldunization." 

Adaptation to "new needs"

The Education Counsellor, Begoña Pedrosa , spoke on the subject at the subsequent hearing of the Governing Council. On September, she detailed that the programme will continue, but adapted to the current "new needs", and stressed that the teachers who have joined the public system in recent years have a level C1.

The counselor recalls that Irale is a service created "50 years ago" and explains that its contribution to the Euskaldunization of teachers has been great. "The reflection that has been made is that it is necessary to adapt to the new needs that we have at this time."