Rajoy backtracks on Spain’s controversial new school-leaver exams Madrid 27 OCT 2016

Decision comes after mass protests against a system many fear will punish poorer students

http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/27/inenglish/1477568771_227856.html

Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced on Thursday that the government would delay the full roll-out of a new exam system that forms part of a package of controversial education reforms introduced by his conservative Popular Party (PP) in 2013.

Under the proposed changes students would be have to sit two externally assessed exams known in Spanish as reválidas, or final examinations.

The first of these exams would be taken at the end of the basic secondary education system (ESO), when students are aged 15 or 16, while the second such exam would take place when students complete their higher secondary education course (bachillerato) at the age of 17 or 18.

Students undertaking the first round of exams at 15 or 16 would have to pass to receive their high school diploma and be allowed to continue their studies. For the older group of students, the new exams would replace Spain’s selectividad university entrance tests.

The government has defended the new exams saying they will have a “very positive” effect by giving students and their families a clearer idea of their progress.

But opponents want the system to be scrapped. They say it places too much emphasis on the results of individual exams – 40% in the case of ESO exam and 30% for the bachillerato exam.

Critically, they also argue the system will force students with economic and educational problems out of the classroom, creating a system of haves and have-nots. Spain has the highest school dropout rate in Europe with 20% of students not having any form of high school diploma, according to European Union statistics.

The new system – which is expected to cost the government €2.3 billion – is being trialed during the current academic year but was expected to become standard in 2018.

But speaking in parliament on Thursday, Rajoy said the exams would have “academic effect until there is a national pact on education, as per my proposal of yesterday [Wednesday].”

During a tense investiture debate on Wednesday, the prelude to a second debate on Saturday at which Rajoy is expected to be named as the head of a minority government, the acting prime minister made mention of eight major issues that he is ready to discuss with the Socialists and the emerging reform party Ciudadanos. These topics include jobs, education, pensions and the fight against corruption.

This means that while the new exams will take place, they will essentially be toothless: for now, students aged 15 and 16 will not have to pass the exam to receive their school leaving certificate and the older students will continue to sit the current university entrance tests.

Rajoy’s announcement comes a day after hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and parents protested against the proposed changes in more than 40 cities.

Between 30 and 40% of all students aged 14 and over this took part in the action while 12% of teachers stayed away from the classroom, according to official Education Ministry figures.

But unions behind the action put the figures as high as 90% for students and 60% for teachers, describing the day as an “amazing success.”

Wednesday’s strike was the latest in a series of 23 protests against the 2013 education law, the LOMCE, which the PP forced through Congress in 2013 despite the opposition of 11 political parties who saw it as ideologically driven.

“If they don’t call off the exams by Monday, the Students’ Union will take action again,” said group spokesperson Ana García.

Meanwhile, the president of the Spanish federation of parent-teacher associations, CEAPA, demanded that the new minority government of Mariano Rajoy call off the exams within four months and start new parliamentary negotiations on the country’s education law.

The organization also called on the government to reverse the cuts applied to the education sector during the crisis.
VOCABULARY:

Roll-out (n): introduction of sth new

Sit (an exam): take an exam

Undertake: to do sth, esp sth that will be difficult

Scrap: cause sth to end / get rid of sth

Haves and have-nots: rich and poor

Trial: test

Current: at present

Toothless: powerless, ineffectual

Figures: numbers

Union: trade union ( sindicato)

Call off: cancel
Reverse : change the direction of sth to its opposite

University entrance test: prueba de acceso a la univ.

Dropout rate: índice de abandono escolar

Pact on education

Read more: http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/28/inenglish/1477665648_836385.html

https://www.thelocal.es/20161029/spain-finally-has-a-govt-rajoy-voted-back-to-power

Students in Spain strike over university degree changes

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Vocabulary
banner: cloth sign - pancarta,
pass ( a law): to approve, esp by vote - aprobar
bachelor's degree: undergraduate qualification- título, licenciatura
master's degree: postgraduate qualification- máster
roughly: approximately, more or less
wealthy: rich
financial burden: carga financiera
pursue: to carry on or continue sth, esp. in order to accomplish some goal

UNIVERSITY DEGREE REFORM - SPAIN

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http://spanishnewstoday.com/spanish-students-up-in-arms-over-university-degree-reforms_20998-a.html#.VPYhbvmG9NM

LOMCE- BASIC ASPECTS

Is the LOMCE a new Law of Education?

No. The LOMCE is an amendment of the existing school reform LOE (Organic Law of Education).
What are the general objectives of the LOMCE?

Adhering to the European Union guidelines regarding education, the Europe 2020 Strategy and the need for improvement in education in this country, the general objectives are:

• To reduce variations in requirements and demands within education systems throughout the country. 
• To lower the drop-out rates in compulsory educational levels (pupils under the age of 16). 
• To improve levels of achievement in Compulsory Secondary Education. 
• To improve students’ level of knowledge in basic subjects. 
• To establish a clear system of progress indicators according to educational objectives. 
• To increase the autonomy of schools. 
• To generalise and spread the use of ICT within education. 
• To promote and update vocational training studies. 
• To improve foreign languages learning. 
• To streamline the educational offer.

What is the structure of the education system with the LOMCE?

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When will it be implemented and in which courses?

How does the LOMCE affect Key Competencies?

The nomenclature and definition of Key Competencies in the LOMCE is based on a European Commission document on 21st century competencies.

The LOMCE defines 7 competencies: 

• Linguistic competence 
• Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology 
• Digital competence 
• Learning to learn 
• Social and civic competencies 
• Initiative and entrepreneurship 
• Cultural awareness and expression 

Are some subjects more important than others?

Within the LOMCE subjects are classified in three ways: 

Obligatory core subjects: 

These are the same for pupils throughout the country at each educational stage. They should take up at least 50% of the school timetable and everything is established by the Government in relation to these subjects. 

Obligatory specific subjects: 

There are three of these and a student should study two in each course; Physical Education and a choice between Religion or Social and Civic values. Performance Indicators are established by the Government in these subjects. 

Elective subjects dependent on the Autonomous Community or School: these subjects are designed by the each of the Autonomous Communities. According to the stage, the offer of this type of subjects is more or less wide-ranging. The only obligatory subject offered and programmed each year at all stages is the Co-official Language in Communities where this applies.

How many assessments will there be and what are the objectives behind these?

3rd Primary 

This is a diagnostic evaluation to detect difficulties and implement improvement measures. 

Each Autonomous Community carries these out and there are no academic repercussions. 

6th Primary 

This is an external exam, the same for all students across the country. The Government will develop and design the evaluation criteria and characteristics for these tests. 

Competencies are measured: what the student knows and what the student knows how to do. 

The results will be informative and orientative for Secondary. 

4th Secondary 

This is an external exam, the same for all students across the country. The Government will develop and design the evaluation criteria and characteristics for these tests. 

There will be two final exams: 

4th Secondary: Academic. Successful students are awarded a Secondary Education Certificate (ESO Diploma) in Academic Education, which is necessary to enter Bachillerato – the post-compulsory stage of Schooling. 

4th Secondary: Applied. Successful students are awarded a Secondary Education Certificate (ESO Diploma) in Applied Education, which is necessary to enter Vocational studies at the Middle Grade Training Cycle level (Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio) 

Independently of the course studied at 4th Secondary, pupils can sit whichever one of the two exams, and if they should so wish, both of them. 

This assessment has academic repercussions because students who pass are awarded the Secondary Education Certificate (ESO Diploma). 

2º Bachillerato 

This is an external exam, the same for pupils across the country. The Government will develop and design the evaluation criteria and characteristics for these tests. 

This assessment has academic repercussions because students who pass are awarded the Bachillerato Diploma (comparable to A-Levels). 

iF YOU WANT TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE http://www.macmillanelt.es/askmacmillanabout/faq-about-the-lomce/basic-aspects-of-the-lomce/

LOMCE- MAIN CHANGES

How is Secondary education organised?

Secondary education is still divided into two cycles. However, within the LOMCE, the First Cycle covers 1st, 2nd and 3rd course.

The Second Secondary Cycle consists of only one course, The 4th year of Secondary.

At this 4th Secondary year, students have two options: 

4th Secondary: Applied Education, in order to enter Professional Studies 

4th Secondary: Academic Education, in order to enter Bachillerato 

Students can repeat no more than twice in all of Secondary but they cannot repeat the same course twice.

In exceptional circumstances, students can repeat the 4th Secondary year, but only if they have not repeated any other year in ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education).

Students pass onto the next course if they do not fail more than two subjects and if the subjects are not both Maths and Language.

In exceptional circumstances, students can pass onto the next course if they have failed three subjects subject to teaching staff approval.

The subject offer in Secondary is the following:

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What certification is awarded on finishing Secondary Education (ESO) and what studies does this give access to?

There are two requirements in order to obtain the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Título de Graduado en ESO): 

• Achieve an overall grade of 5 or higher in the final Secondary Exams. 
• Obtain a final grade in Secondary of 5 or higher. 

Final grade of Secondary = 70% subjects studied + 30% final exam

On passing the Academic Education exam, students have access to Bachillerato, Professional Studies of Fine Arts and Design and Sports Education at the Middle Grade Training Cycle level (Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio).

What certification is awarded on finishing Bachillerato and what studies does this give access to?

There are two requirements in order to obtain the High School Diploma/Baccalaureate (título de Bachiller): 

• Achieve an overall grade of 5 or higher in the final Bachillerato exams. 
• Obtain a final grade in Bachillerato of 5 or higher. 

Final grade of Bachillerato = 60% subjects studied + 40% final exam

Students who pass have access to Professional Training programmes at Middle Grade (Grado Medio) and Higher Grade (Grado Superior).

However, access to studies at university level is not guaranteed. With the LOMCE, access will be regulated by the Universities themselves. At least 60% of the possible points based on grades will be based on the Bachillerato grade-point average. Universities can also decide if 100% of the points take into account the Bachillerato option and type of elective subjects studied.

if you want to read more click here: http://www.macmillanelt.es/askmacmillanabout/faq-about-the-lomce/main-changes-by-educational-stage/

TEACHERS' STRIKE - Balearic style 17 / 9 / 13

The education system in the Balearic islands has been thrown into total chaos due to what is claimed to be an illegal implementation of a totally crazy, bizarre, stupendous new law. Read a summary of the situation on The Ibiza Sun:

Difficult Situation

Headlines were dominated this week by the new law concerning the integration of languages which will see children being taught in Castillian Spanish, Catalan and English at all levels, which some education experts insist is just not viable at the present time. They claim it would mean that certain subjects would have to be taught in a language that the pupils are not used to; for example, to learn mathematics in English when the teacher’s command of that language is sketchy would be very difficult. The prime mover of this new legislation is Joana María Camps, the Balearic Education Councillor, and all eleven headmasters of the secondary schools in Ibiza and Formentera have demanded that she resigns over her handling of the new system. By the time this edition of the Ibiza Sun hits the streets, it is highly likely that teachers at these schools will have gone on strike, action which had been threatened since well before the beginning of the new school year, and has no timescale, although with teachers not being paid whilst on strike, it is unlikely to last too long.

The head teachers of the secondary schools in Ibiza and the one in Formentera have not rejected the idea of presenting their resignations en masse, but are waiting to see the reactions of their counterparts, both in Mallorca and Menorca. In the latter Island, disciplinary action has already been taken out on three schools there due to their refusal to implement the new law.

The Parents Associations of the various education centres are understandably concerned about the situation, and the President of the Association which governs Ibiza and Formentera, Conchi Romero, said that they fully appreciate the position that the teachers find themselves in, adding that they have had to pay for the consequences of decisions which have been made in the public education system by the current head of the Govern, José Ramón Bauza and his team over the past two years, but that their main concern is for the people who will be most seriously disadvantaged by the strike - the children. Education has been one of the departments which has experienced the most cuts, with wages being slashed, jobs lost, class sizes increased and auxiliary teachers, who had been helping children with learning problems, dismissed.

It was initially hoped that a last minute meeting between the two sides would lead to an agreement, but it was reported that negotiations had broken down on Friday, resulting in the indefinite strike starting on Monday.

In a nutshell, the teachers are being forced to teach many subjects in English. Anyone who has had dealings with teachers at schools in Ibiza know that the vast majority of teachers cannot speak a jot of the language!

At a time when the schools have record numbers of pupils and less teachers, having taken pay cuts on the chin, this latest move is just plain crazy.

It is hard to envisage what the outcome will ultimately be, but this is one strike that is entirely reasonable.

http://forum.ibiza-spotlight.com/threads/teachers-strike-balearic-style.69647/

Teachers in the Balearic Islands in general strike for "inclusive, quality and Catalan language" education

Balearic Government cuts budget, seeks to introduce new system that substantially reduces position of Catalan • Unions, civil society associations and parties support the strike, ask Balearic Government to negotiate with teachers.

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Teachers in the Balearic Islands' public schools have started today a general strike against recent education policies by the Balearic Government. Strikers consider  that the islands' executive (in the hands of Spanish nationalist Popular Party, PP) is acting against the public system of education. On the one hand, protesters say José Ramón Bauzá-led government is reducing the education budget more than other autonomous communities in Spain. On the other, they argue that the Balearic Government seeks to impose a new trilingual model (known as TIL ) that, according to strikers, will not help pupils to improve their skills in English but will negatively affect the position of Catalan in schools. Protesters vow to continue fighting  for an "inclusive, quality and Catalan language" education system in the Balearic Islands.
The strike is supported  by the main trade union among teachers (STEI), the two main Spain-wide unions (UGT and CCOO) and the Assembly of Teachers. It also has the support of several civil society associations in the Balearic Islands. All political parties in the Balearic Parliament (except for the PP) have asked Bauzá to start negotiations with the teachers in order to substantially change, or even to withdraw, the TIL and the budget cuts.
STEI has said  that 93% of teachers have endorsed the strike today.
Court says introduction of TIL should be suspended.
Two weeks ago, the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJIB, Catalan acronym) provisionally suspended  the introduction of the TIL into the education system. The Court argued that the TIL should not be implemented while the appeals against it had not been settled by the judiciary. The Court also said that the way the TIL was being introduced had not all legal guarantees.
But the Balearic Government decided, the day after the suspension, to force  the implementation of the TIL, despite the court's opinion. Bauzá's executive, in an extraordinary session, passed a new decree-law in which some articles of the original law were altered but that kept its basic provisions.

"Balance" between Catalan, Spanish and English
The Government argues that the TIL is only seeking to introduce a "balanced" use of Catalan, Spanish and English into the Balearic schools. This means that all three should be used as vehicular languages, and not only as a subject (as was English). Up till now, it was Catalan the main vehicular language. Thus, the new system is set to substantially reduce the position of Catalan, the own language of the Balearic Islands.
But Balearic teachers' associations argue that only a system where Catalan is the main language in school can really balance the social situation -where Catalan is a minorised language while Spanish is the hegemonic one, known by the entire population- and grant that all pupils have a good knowledge of both languages.

In relation to English, teachers say that the Balearic Government is trying to introduce it as a vehicular language without having the proper resources (human or economic ones) that ensure enough quality of teaching. The TIL "will increase school failure" because of this, they argue.

 http://www.nationalia.info/en/news/1555  16/09/2013

Educative strike in the Balearics paralyzes public education

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Teachers strike but government stands firm  Majorca Daily Bulletin 17th September 2013 

Trade unions representing local teachers were claiming victory in their first day of industrial action yesterday alleging that 90 percent of all teachers joined the strike call. 

But the word from the local government was that just 22 percent of teachers had not gone to work  yesterday.

“A total of 4,500 teachers didn’t work yesterday out of 7,300 which are employed. If you take into account that 2,300 were covering the minimum services which had been demanded by the Balearic government, I think you can say that the strike has been a success,” said a union spokesperson yesterday.

The Balearic government dismissed the figures and said that support for the strike had been low.

Balearic President Jose Ramon Bauza said that he would not be backing down on plans to introduce a three tier learning system based around English, Catalan and Spanish. Teachers claimed that they do not have the necessary resources to introduce the system.

http://majorcadailybulletin.com/ 

SPAIN'S EDUCATION REFORM (LINKS)

Spanish Education Minister Wert Resumes Attacks On Catalan Language And Culture

Privatization of Public Education.  A Trend in Spain. A Way Towards Inequality (slideshare)

“I find it strange that other regions haven’t protested the education bill” (Minister José Ignacio Wert refutes notion that cutbacks in schools could affect quality of teaching) December 2012

Debate   

Education reform puts Spain, Catalonia on collision course

The argument for Spanish in Catalan schools December 2012

Controversial reform in education November 2012

Government makes progress on education reform Friday 21 September 2012

Proyecto Ley September 2012