Valencian Government Removes Catalan and Balearic Authors from Valencian Language Curriculum

The Education Department of the Valencian government confirmed on Monday a controversial reform of the Valencian language curriculum for the upper secondary school level. The change involves removing authors from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands from the reading list. The Valencian government, led by the People's Party (PP), argues that the new decree "prioritizes the presence of Valencian authors and the main literary movements of the Community." At the same time, officials assure that it "does not limit the choice of works" by teachers. This stance has not calmed the teaching community. The main teachers' union in the region, STEPV, described the proposal as "confirmation of the elimination of authors not belonging to Valencian literature." The union announced it will study all available legal and protest actions to "prevent the publication" of the new curriculum in its proposed form. As a first step, an educational strike was announced for March 31. If the authorities do not back down from their plans, STEPV threatens to start an indefinite strike. The dispute over the literary canon in teaching the Valencian language (or Catalan, as it is called in other regions) has a long history, dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the language was reintroduced to schools after the fall of Franco's dictatorship. Since then, a debate has been ongoing between supporters of a common canon for all linguistic areas and regionalists emphasizing Valencian specificity. The People's Party, which regained power in Valencia in 2023, has consistently pursued a policy of strengthening regional distinctiveness, also in the sphere of culture and language. The authorities' decision has been criticized not only by unions but also by some intellectuals, who see it as an attempt to politically narrow the cultural horizons of students. „"Estudiaremos las medidas necesarias para evitar la publicación del currículum de Bachillerato tal y como lo propone la Conselleria"” — STEPV. Protest and Decision Timeline: March 31, 2026 — STEPV teachers' educational strike The conflict has a broader political context and is seen as part of a wider "culture war" between the central government in Madrid and the autonomous regions. Implementing the changes will require the formal issuance of a decree, opening the door to possible legal complaints and appeals.

Perspektywy mediów: Critics of the reform see it as nationalist censorship and a political narrowing of education, leading to the cultural isolation of the region. Supporters argue it is about strengthening their own cultural identity and giving rightful priority to Valencian creators in the regional language curriculum.