Castilla-La Mancha, a region in the european context

1977. Arrival of democracydemocracy. 1978. The democratic constitutiondemocratic constitution. 1986. Spain is part of the European UnionEuropean Union. Referring to educationeducation: the Constitution

recognizes the right of Spaniards to education education without discriminationwithout discrimination.

The Constitution establishes a new model of state: the autonomous communities.the autonomous communities.

CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

Castilla-La Mancha is one of these autonomous communities with wide legislative and wide legislative and executive autonomyexecutive autonomy, with its own parliament and regional government.

It has a populationpopulation of about 2 million 2 million inhabitants and a total area of 30,58930,589 square miles.

It is made up of five provincesfive provinces: Guadalajara, Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Albacete.

ToledoToledo, the regional capital city is considered a World Heritage Site World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO.

Although agricultureagriculture used to be the dominant sector, our industry is undergoing a major transformation and a great effort is being made to stimulate energy efficiency and renewable energiesrenewable energies.

The Spanish Constitution Spanish Constitution recognizes the possibility that the autonomous communities autonomous communities may assume executive powers in educationexecutive powers in education.

It is a decentralized systemdecentralized system, the national government only takes charge of:◦ Defining minimum common curricular contents.◦ Scholarship policies.◦ Degree recognition and standardization.◦ Coordination of Autonomous Communities education

administrations.◦ Supporting Autonomous Communities to keep a territorial

balance.

Referents

Education and Training 2010. Lisbon European Council, 2000.

Organic Act in Education.LOE.

May 2006

Political Outlines of the Regional Government

Education Act for Castilla-La Mancha Region.

Our government has been competentcompetent in the field of education since 2000.

Main principles: The school for everybody as a right for lifelong

learning. Diversity as a value not as a handicap. Inclusive an intercultural perspective. Teacher-training for quality in education Quality/Equality

GENERALEDUCATIVE

SYSTEM

SOME FIGURES

369,026 Students. 1,085Schools.

◦ 86% Public Schools86% Public Schools. (930◦ 14% Private Schools14% Private Schools. (157)

SCHOOLSState

schoolsPublic

schools Total

Infant education 10 12 22

Infant and Primary Education 649 17 666

Infant, Primary Education and Compulsory Secondary 13 67 80

Compulsory and Upper Secondary 215 21 236

Infant, Primary Education, Compulsory and Upper Secondary

  28 28

Specific for Special Needs 10 12 22

Specific for Adult Education 33   33

Total 930 157 1087

EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION

2010

2,157 MILLIONS (€)

22. 43 % Regional Budget

5.6% Regional Gross Domestic Budget

March 2000: Lisbon StrategyLisbon Strategy. The European Council agreed to set a strategic goal for the European Union to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy and society in the world by 2010.

2001 was declared the European Year of Languages European Year of Languages to promote multilingualism and a greater languages capability across Europe.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages provides a common basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses, curriculum guidelines, examinations, textbooks, etc. across Europe.

The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language - whether at school or outside school - can record and reflect on their language learning and cultural experiences

March 2002: The conclusions of the Barcelona European Barcelona European Council Council called for further action to improve the mastery of basic skills, in particular by teaching foreign languages to all from a very early age.

The Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key key competences for lifelong learningcompetences for lifelong learning, one of which is communication in foreign languages.‘Communicative Communicative competencecompetence’.

It introduces the idea of Multilingualism to integrate the treatment of mother-tongue, language of context and foreign languages.

To promote the respect and acknowledgement of the linguistic and cultural respect and acknowledgement of the linguistic and cultural plurality plurality as an element enriching society.

Application of the Common European Framework of Reference Common European Framework of Reference for the Use of Languages; use of the European Portfolio of Languages; assessment of competences; collaborative learning in the process of foreign language acquisition.

To reach the number of 175 bilingual schools bilingual schools by 2011. To disseminate the use of Contents and Language Integrated Learning. (CLIL)(CLIL) To achieve specific training specific training and linguistic competence for the teachersteachers of non- of non-

linguistic subjects linguistic subjects who are teaching in the foreign language; To promote the didactic and linguistic training of foreign language teachersdidactic and linguistic training of foreign language teachers, in

order to implement the use of the Common European Framework of Reference Framework of Reference for the Use of Languages and the European PortfolioEuropean Portfolio; and increase the participation in Longlife Learning Programme ProjectsLonglife Learning Programme Projects.

To encourage encourage youth mobilitymobility, school partnerships, student and teacher exchanges, as well as the learning of foreign languages in summer or autumn courses, both in Castilla- La Mancha and abroad.

For studentsFor students:◦Language Courses.◦Stays abroad.

Projects for schoolsProjects for schools:◦European Programmes for Lifelong Learning.◦Bilingual schools (in English and French).◦In-Service Teacher Training programs

In order to help our students to improve their foreign language level and accuracy, we have a grant policygrant policy and funds which allows more than 1,300 students to stay abroad for different length stays.◦ 3-week summer coursessummer courses:

United Kingdom: 770 students. Ireland: 220 stu. Canada: 75 stu. France: 90 stu. Germany: 15 stu.

◦ Integration coursesIntegration courses in March and September: Ireland: 120 stu.

◦ Academic course in Ireland: 25 stu.◦ Students’ Exchanges: Students’ Exchanges: Some schools take part in bilateral exchanges bilateral exchanges of students,

with schools of other countries. Last year more than 900 students participated in this exchanges.

Some other activities take place in Castilla – La Mancha :◦ English summer courses English summer courses for young students (12-16). 740 stu.

Castilla-La Mancha participates in the different actions carried out by the Lifelong Learning Programme Lifelong Learning Programme through the Spanish National Agency for Lifelong Learning Programmes attached to the Ministry of Ministry of EducationEducation, and with specific funds specific funds from our regional government::◦ Comenius◦ Leonardo da Vinci◦ Erasmus◦ Grundtvig◦ Transversal Programme◦ Jean Monet

In Castilla- La Mancha there are thirteen Official Language are thirteen Official Language Schools,Schools, where different languages are taught.

Language education is structured in three levels, three levels, elementary, intermediate and advanced, elementary, intermediate and advanced, in concordance with the level of competences established by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

They have been designed for students over 16 students over 16 who need to acquire or to improve their competences in a language, and obtain an official certificate.

In 2009, 15.00015.000 students attended these schools all over Castilla – La Mancha.

1996: An agreement was signed between the SpanishSpanish Minister of Education and the British Minister of Education and the British CouncilCouncil to carry out a bilingual programme through the teaching of a Spanish - British integrated curriculum in Primary schools.

2002: Spanish- French Spanish- French sections were created at Primary schools.

2005: Castilla-La Mancha decided to increase increase the number of Bilingual Sections and create its own Programme.

Bilingual Sections are those schools where certain non-linguistic disciplines non-linguistic disciplines are taught through a foreign language as the vehicular tongue.

The second language is used as an instrumental instrumental languagelanguage, a teaching instrument.

Objectives.◦ To improve the students skills in foreign languages.◦ To put them in contact with different people, cultures, customs

and environments.◦ To improve general skills. (cognitive flexibility)

The schools have to apply apply to have the opportunity to run a Bilingual Section.

One of the priorities of the Regional Government is to provide our schools with native language assistants language assistants who will back up foreign language Spanish teachers and teachers of other subjects which are taught in English (CLIL).

The language assistants are provided with a monthly allowance, monthly allowance, a health health insurance insurance and technical support. technical support.

Foreign Language teachers.Foreign Language teachers.◦ Every year more than 200 teachers spend part of the summer

studying abroad for 3 or 4 weeks. Non-linguistic areas teachers.Non-linguistic areas teachers.

◦ One of the most important priorities of the Government in Castilla – La Mancha is to provide these teachers with the with the linguistic skills and competences linguistic skills and competences necessary to teach in the context of Contents and Language Integrated Learning.

◦ The final step of this special training process is a workplace workplace shadowing visit shadowing visit and periods at educational institutions of the country where the language used for the teaching of their subjects is spoken.

◦ Near 200 teachers teachers are going to spendare going to spend time abroad during the year 2010.

School partnershipspartnerships and student and teacher exchangesexchanges.

Teacher trainingTeacher training, particularly in the English and Spanish respectively.◦ Shadowing.◦ Courses and stays abroad.

ExchangesExchanges between both parties of innovative innovative ideas and projectsideas and projects in the area of educational administration.

Ways to cooperate:◦ Lifelong Learning Programme funds.◦ Other resources.

Ministry of Education and Science Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha

Luis Miguel Miñarro Lópezlmminarro@jccm.es

Thanks a lot!