No student fellowships granted yet in Catalonia

The economic crisis has notably reduced state revenues and affected all public services. Indeed, this has been the case of educational fellowships granted by the Spanish government. However, in Catalonia these fellowships have become almost extinct. According to news published by newspaper El País, Catalan students are explicitly discriminated, as their peers from other regions are still getting funded and paid, although with some delays, despite complying with the same requisites.

The Spanish ministry of education, headed by Mr. José Ignacio Wert, is leading the offensive and does not hide his will to introduce changes into the Catalan education system. Indeed, Mr. Wert relates the democratic Catalan process with classroom school indoctrination and wants to eradicate the linguistic immersion system. Mr. Wert boastfully stated at the Spanish Congress that he actually wants to “make Catalan children more Spanish”.

The Spanish ministry of education claims it has made efforts to maintain the student fellowship program. However the budget for that has been cut back by 14.6%. This reduction, by €209 m, has virtually abolished the fellowships granted in Catalonia. The Spanish minister of education has also raised the requirements for access to general fellowships awarded to students from low income families.

 

Manel Bosch