Campaign for more Basque teachers (Northern Basque Country)

Thousands of people gathering last month at Herri Urrats (The People's Steps), the festival which Basque schools (Ikastolas) holds in the northern Basque Country every year. The Seaska ikastola federation's is urging the French government to provide more teachers for Basque schools and the mobilisation of the campaign was very much the main subject of conversation at this years event.

There is a report here from the ‘Argia’ website:

http://www.argia.eus/albistea/schools-which-teach-in-basque-request-more...

Seaska's chairperson, Paxkal Indo, said:

"We need 25 more teachers to avoid having more than forty pupils in each class, and for children with disabilities to be able to study in dignified conditions."

Politicians in the northern Basque Country politicians have been asked to help and a motion to this effect has been sent to each town hall for it to be debated and passed.

Argia says that:

“Jean Rene Etxegarai, the president of Euskal Elkargokoa (the Basque Institution for the northern Basque Country) expressed his concern at the French Academy's attitude – it is responsible for regulating languages and protecting French – and said that the future of Basque was at risk.”

I will follow and report on this campaign. I feel sure that cultural bodies in the Celtic countries especially those that are devoted to the Celtic languages will express support for the efforts of our Basque friends.

Image: From ‘Argia’