95 schools to teach in English

PALMA
THIS coming academic year, 104 education centres in the Balearics are to provide a choice of at least one subject which is taught in a language other than Catalan or Castillian Spanish. The move comes as part of a “European Section” programme with has been launched by the regional ministry for Education and Culture.

Essentially this means that the habitual school curriculum is followed as normal but instead of having, for example, biology taught in Castillian or Catalan, it can be taught in English or French, or both. In terms of language distribution, 95 centres have opted for English, 3 for French and 6 for both. Details of the centres which are adopting the scheme and the linguistic programme they have to offer were printed yesterday in the Official Bulletin of the Balearic Islands (BOIB).

Those schools and colleges which are offering classes where the subject matter is taught in both English and French are Arxiduc Lluis Salvador, Ramon Llull, Ses Estacions and Emili Darder secondary schools in Palma., and the Bendinat in Calvia. The programme has been authorised in 71 primary schools, 37 in secondary centres, 2 at institutions for pre-university students and 2 at establishments where professional training is given. The scheme is currently on trial but government educational inspectorates aim to introduce a staged increase in the practice of teaching the curriculum in alternative languages.