Perhaps this is the moment
Jordi Pujol
Editorial / January 08, 2008
The moment to do what? To speak without complexes about education in Catalonia. And to make decisions. And why now? Because those who, when in opposition, for many years spoke negatively of it, no longer dare speak in the same terms now they are in office. And also because maybe now they will see things from a different perspective. But all this will not be enough if the current opposition feels tempted to practice the same type of obstructionism to which it fell victim. On the contrary, it should continue to stand up for what it defended when it was in office, and was not always able to accomplish.
This circumstance aside, the latest PISA report has had an impact, as has the equally painful report from the Bofill Foundation. Moreover, sectors of civil society – both economic and otherwise - are expressing ever more condemnation of the deficient standard of our system of education.
Perhaps this is paving the way for a more objective and less conditioned debate.
Since such a debate and its eventual reassessment will have a highly critical component, it would be fitting to begin to recognise objectively the achievements of the Catalan educational system over the last 30 years. Achievements such as increasing school attendance, contributing to social cohesion, achieving a noteworthy level of equality, implementing language immersion and, lastly, a standard that, although below the average of countries with better systems of education, has obtained a pass (albeit by the skin of its teeth). It would only be fair for all those –especially teachers- who have given so much of their energy to this cause. But having said this, we must recognise that the standard of our education is poor. Our society, our economy and Catalonia’s ambitions as a country require a higher level. At any rate, one thing is certain: there is an air of dissatisfaction and gloom in education.
So, what is to be done?
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This editorial is not the right place to elaborate on the entire education policy. Whatever the case may be, we have addressed this subject various times in this bulletin (see editorials: On the LOE (and the National Education Agreement), 25 April 2006; Scientific and technical degrees, 5 September 2006; Foolishness is costly, 17 October 2006; To dissect or to drive forward, 28 November 2006; Training, training, training, 3 July 2007; The subject of citizenship and education in responsibility. 4 September 2007; Aufrecht durch Pisa 18, December 2007).
These articles have highlighted the fundamental role of schoolteachers, as well as teacher training, and the need to bolster the figure and role of headmasters and to restore authority and respect to the classroom. We also insisted that schools should be granted more autonomy. Moreover, rather than an abundance of credits, we maintain that the objectives need to emphasise the rudimentary skills of reading, writing and mathematics. Likewise, we insist on knowledge assessment.
It is also high time to address the issue of concertada schools (schools sponsored by a public voucher system) without the hypocrisy with which it has been dealt for many years. This is a good moment for that too, because many officials of the Generalitat, and important ones, send their children to such schools, despite having made exalted speeches against the concertada system. And because they know better than anyone does about the economic consequences of the abolition of said institutions. And because now, in government, they are able to understand that their fair demand that the concertada school system take in its share of immigrant pupils will come at an economic price.
For all these reasons maybe – and let us hope so - the urgent issue of education can be discussed without demagogy and with the full knowledge of the facts.
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Nonetheless, it will not be easy. Because assuming that the Department of Education and the main opposition party collaborate, any change in direction will run into many further stumbling blocks, including corporate, union, ideological (political and pedagogical ideologies), and media. And this will call for plenty of dialogue. Social pressure may help. Society is aware that things are not going well. The economic institutions know we need to improve competitiveness, everyone who is calling for the ascenseur social (social elevator) to work knows it, the University, which complains of a sub-standard basic education, knows it, etc.
If society piles on the pressure, the parties, the unions and everyone in education sector in general will find the right formula to set the model of education on a course towards higher standards. If it does, the findings of the next PISA report will be better.
