Nassima arrives at the Girona Municipal School Enrollment Office (OME) completely exhausted. She had an appointment at ten in the morning, and it's now past ten-fifteen. "I went to work this morning, convinced the appointment was for tomorrow... I'm so stressed out with all this pre-registration stuff," she exclaims. A single mother with three children, her middle son is autistic, she had a premonition of this situation three years ago. That's when she fought hard with the Education Department to prevent her eldest, now 14, from starting secondary school at the Opus Dei-run school for boys in Girona, Bell-lloc College. "I wanted him to go to a public school," she exclaims, "but they didn't give me any alternatives then, and now I'd better figure it out. I can see my eldest will have to go study on the other side of the city because there are no other options or places available."

A total of 443 children and young people from the Segarra region are participating this year in a new edition of The Enchanted MirrorA cultural and educational project that, since 2019, has linked education, culture, and the local community through a collaborative process. The initiative connects schools, teachers, students, institutions, and cultural professionals in a program that combines artistic training, stage creation, and community participation. The project unfolds in two main phases throughout the school year. During the first term, participating students discover the string, wind, and percussion instruments that are part of the performance through instrumental discovery sessions, vocal technique training, and physical education. In the second phase, corresponding to the second term, the project focuses on musical and stage rehearsals with the aim of refining the songs and the dramatic action of the show. The Enchanted Mirror It is based on Jaume Ferran's work, *Cuaderno de música* (Music Notebook), with an adaptation of a text by Montse Pont and music by Jordi Castellà. The show combines a children's choir, soloists, narration, and an instrumental ensemble, and is created by an artistic and pedagogical team made up of professionals from the fields of music, theater, and dance who work together with the participating teachers and students. The project, organized by the Regional Council, is based on a shared creative process that understands artistic learning as a demanding and collective experience. Children and young people actively participate in all dimensions of the work and are part of a collective effort that fosters cooperation, perseverance, and commitment to the creative process. This process will culminate in five performances of The Enchanted Mirror at the Municipal Theatre Ateneo of Guissona, scheduled for March 19 and 20, 2026. In each performance, approximately one hundred students will participate on stage, with the simultaneous presence of several educational centers, in a format that combines educational vocation and public projection.

Italy will install metal detectors in schools to prevent students from bringing knives into the classroom after an 18-year-old boy killed a classmate with a kitchen knife at a high school in the northern region of La Spezia. The first pilot tests began on Friday at the entrance to the Einaudi Chiodo High School, where Youssef Abanoub, 18, was fatally stabbed two weeks ago by a classmate, Zouhair Atif, 19. Police officers with canine units and handheld metal detectors scanned the backpacks of all students outside the school gates. The violent death of Youssef Abanoub sparked a broad debate in Italy about youth violence and led the La Spezia police headquarters' provincial public order and security committee to decide to implement stricter security measures. The proposal was presented last week by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara and confirmed this Thursday by the Interior Ministry through a circular sent to schools. "We need to restore parental authority and for everyone to understand that a parent's role cannot be delegated to a mobile phone," the minister declared in an interview, in which he warned of the rise in violence among young Italians. "Metal detectors in schools will be a useful tool; they are not repressive in any way, especially since those who don't carry knives have nothing to fear," Valditara asserted, responding to those who criticize a supposed "militarization" of Italian schools. Deterrent effect

According to the Italian government, the aim is to prevent the increasing use of bladed weapons by students through a system designed to have a deterrent effect. The measure can be adopted at the request of school principals, but law enforcement, with full "respect for school autonomy," may conduct surprise checks at schools "if there are specific concerns about the commission of crimes or ongoing judicial investigations in this area," the circular states. The document emphasizes that "the commission of serious acts of violence among young people, the discovery of weapons or other objects capable of causing harm in or around schools, as well as the presence of drug trafficking and consumption in areas frequented by schools, have highlighted the marginalization and illegality that permeate the social fabric of schools, requiring a coordinated institutional response." Increase in complaints

Despite warnings from institutions, Italy has one of the lowest rates of juvenile delinquency in Europe. However, according to a recent study by the NGO Save the Children, between 2019 and 2024, the number of minors reported for possession of weapons—from knives to brass knuckles or even stun guns—rose from 778 to 1,946. The first school to implement this measure was Marie Curie in Ponticelli, a troubled neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. "Three or four times a year, police officers check students at the entrance to see if they are carrying concealed weapons or drugs," explains the principal, Valeria Pirone. The decision was made after a student stabbed another two years ago. After speaking with the students, Pirone understood the magnitude of a worrying phenomenon that, she says, "the school couldn't fight alone." In an interview in the newspaper The RepublicThe headmistress acknowledges that, at first, the students were afraid, but now they accept the checks calmly because they feel safer. "If this measure deters even one student from carrying a knife in their pocket, it will have been worth adopting. But it's sad to have to do it with a dead body on the floor," she concludes.

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"I have a school very close to home, but there are so many vulnerable students." "I've found a high school with resources, good teachers, and attractive facilities, but it takes in too many immigrants and children from dysfunctional families." "I'm interested in a school's educational project, but it's extremely complex..." Now that school pre-registration is approaching, it's no surprise to hear phrases like these, which contribute to the continued high level of segregation in our education system. The problem is not solved, even though the [report/document/report/etc.] was published in 2019. Pact against School Segregation, signed by the Catalan Ombudsman, the Catalan Government, and several city councils.

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Just over a year ago, a severe weather event, known as a "DANA," devastated the Valencian Community with flash floods that claimed the lives of 230 people. The event left scenes of people clinging to cars and balconies to escape the water, and the following day, images of destruction in the streets, homes, and several schools. The lack of contingency plans for such events also caused chaos in educational centers. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the Valencian Minister of Education, José Antonio Rovira, even questioned whether he had been prepared. "to look after the 500,000 students and the 80,000 teachers" Valencians when he was criticized for the death of a school principal in Cheste, who died returning home after staying at the school all day during the floods.

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That Nadal doesn't go to school causes immense sadness. Why, for some strange reason of "respect for diversity" misunderstood, are children denied the chance to know the shepherd boy, the shepherdess Catalina, the mule and the ox, the singing angels, good Joseph, the boy, the raisins and the figs, the little hen, or the little devil? No, there are no Advent calendars, no Three Kings, no whistle, no puppy's woof, and no chick's chirp. No, none of these will go to school, nor will they go to Bethlehem, to Bethlehem, please.

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The Carulla Foundation's Baldiri Awards aim to recognize and promote schools and educational projects throughout the Catalan-speaking world that use culture, the arts, and language to improve and transform society. With the 2025-2026 call for applications, which will remain open until January 26, 2026, the Foundation seeks to reinforce the role of education as a key space for promoting the language and building a critical and cohesive citizenry. The awards have a total endowment of €44,000, distributed across three categories: Baldiri Arts i Llengua (Baldiri Arts and Language), Baldiri Experiències (Baldiri Experiences), and Baldiri Escola Transformadora (Baldiri Transformative School). The Carulla Foundation maintains that language and culture are essential elements for any community and, therefore, must be protected and promoted as rights to be preserved and exercised. Therefore, in this edition, the Baldiri Awards aim to highlight initiatives that use artistic languages ​​in the classroom to promote access to culture and the use of Catalan, fostering the right of children and young people to actively and committedly participate in the cultural life of their community.

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Eight French cities – Paris, Lyon, Lille, Begla, Grenoble, Montpellier, Moans-Sartós and Rennes – have decided to ban tuna and foods made with this fish from school and college cafeteria menus. The reason for the ban is the alleged health risk that can arise from eating this fish, which in some cases can contain a quantity of mercury that is considered dangerous.

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There are up to 308 public schools in Barcelona. They are located in historic buildings, renovated blocks of flats, or even newly built properties, in almost brand-new spaces. This means that each school can have very different maintenance needs and schedules, especially considering that these are spaces where hundreds of people spend hours together every day.

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The case occurred two academic years ago, and they are still suffering the consequences: "It's about two girls, sisters. They were at home when their family was evicted and they saw the police vans and the judicial procession arrive, enter their house, and evict them. Two city workers took them to school. They arrived at a safe school and were taken to a worker; they didn't arrive at a safe school and were taken to a worker. When they were late, they had no home to return to." Anna Pérez, director of the Jacint Verdaguer School in the Poble-sec neighborhood of Barcelona, recounts this case, still emotional. "There's always a case that makes you jump, that makes you say enough, and for us, this was it," she continues. This year, there are 18 other students at the school in the same situation, in the midst of eviction proceedings.

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Knowing what truth and lies mean in a world invaded by fake news. Understanding that "generalizations are often fallacies" at a time when many are talking too loudly. And engaging in dialogue in a divided world. "Understanding that polarization is avoided when you can tolerate disagreeing with your friend and still be their friend." Philosophy teachers argue that the subject they teach goes far beyond the myths and theories of the classics. It allows students to "think," "doubt," "self-criticize," and "question everything." These values and lessons they believe are "fundamental" in today's society and that adolescents cannot properly acquire because they dedicate too few hours to it. "We need time to think," says Laia Cos, who acts as a spokesperson for these teachers.

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The school year has started relatively calmly in nursery and primary schools (no strikes and, in the end, sufficient activity leaders in most cases) and the same thing is expected to happen from Wednesday in secondary schools, which also start the year earlier than usual. Complaints focus on two issues: the heat in schools, which are poorly conditioned for high temperatures; and unfinished building works, which affect various schools.

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Today was the first of the five days of industrial action called by education unions in this month of March. Unions called for mass participation to protest against the Education Department's policies and to demand improvements to the sector. At the moment, union USTEC claims that participation has been massive and exceeded expectations. The unions estimate that around 60% of school teachers have taken part in the strike, whereas Aspepc, a secondary school teachers' union, believes it is 75%. The Education Department, however, says that only 31.3% of state school teachers struck, according to data reported by 87.5% of school. At chartered schools, only 8.7% of teachers went on strike, according to data reported by 69.7% of schools. The unions claim more workers would have gone on strike had it not been for "abusive" minimum services requirements, but even so they claim the demonstration is "historical" and the strike "very massive".

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In an almost unprecedented gesture of unity, all 200 public schools in Barcelona have sent a joint letter to Education minister Josep Gonzàlez-Cambray, in which they convey their "discomfort over communication and resource management". This would seem to indicate that the first of the five days of strikes called in school will have a massive take-up. In addition, schools have started to inform families that they will strike on Tuesday 15th.

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Only five of the 16 schools in Catalonia that used to separate students by sex will remain. The Institució Familiar d'Educació group, which manages ten schools in Catalonia, has announced that its secondary school groups will go co-ed as of next year. The measure, advanced by Diari de Girona, affects the centers of La Farga in Sant Cugat del Vallès (until now only for boys), La Vall (until now only for girls), Les Alzines (for girls) and Bell-lloc del Pla (for boys) in Girona and Institució Tarragona (formed by schools Aura, for girls, and Turó, for boys), and adds to what had already been done by schools in Igualada (Montclar and Mistral) and Lleida (Terraferma and Arabell). In total, there will remain five schools in Catalonia that will separate boys and girls, and they are the ones most closely linked to Opus Dei: Xaloc and Pineda, in L'Hospitalet; Viaró, in Sant Cugat; Camp Joliu, in L'Arboç, and Canigó, in Barcelona

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A very important novelty for the 2022-23 school year: summer holidays will be shortened by one week and classes will start again on Monday 5 September for kindergarten and primary school children and on September 7 for secondary school students, and not on September 12 as happened in recent years. Schools have been informed via e-mail and the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, and the conseller of Education, Josep Gonzàlez-Cambray, have announced the change to the press from Baldiri Reixac School

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The anticovid measures in schools have caused a stir among families and paediatricians. The former have been demanding laxer measures for some time, but now doctors are also beginning to ask the authorities to relax the restrictions that only affect minors. Faced with this collective demand, and coinciding with the slow improvement of epidemiological indicators, the Government is willing to eliminate quarantines of students in the coming days. Executive spokeswoman Patrícia Plaja announced on Tuesday that the Generalitat will inform the Spanish Ministry of Health about the need to update protocols in schools now that the sixth wave is losing in intensity and most of the restrictions for adults have been removed. "It is necessary to modify protocols in schools and that children who do not have any symptoms or are positive can continue to attend class," he said. For the Government, the ideal scenario would be for this modification to be coordinated throughout the State, since most anticovid decisions require the ministry's approval. However, Plaja has warned that if the Spanish government rejects the Catalan proposal at the Interterritorial Health Council on Wednesday, Catalonia will push ahead with the change anyway.

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No respite in contagions or quarantines for schools. Today, there is a total of 120,277 teachers and students in isolation in Catalonia –almost 8% of Catalan students are forced to stay at home–, about 20,000 more than yesterday, and also more than 20,000 more positive cases than yesterday. The number of schools that have been forced to close is also growing steadily (currently seven, most of them rural schools or nurseries) as is the number of full classes that have been sent home (181, 23 more than yesterday). Management is struggling to process sick leave as there have been over 1,000 positives among teachers in the last 24 hours. Altogether it is overwhelming schools as never before.

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Omicron is making it very difficult for schools, which have once again seen their necessary routine disrupted. The explosion in cases in the educational environment, both children and teachers, has become a real problem that is greatly complicating normal running of schools after the holidays. The latest data are worrying: in just one day, 15,000 students have been infected; in the 10 days since the start of the term there have been 99,459 positive cases among students and teaching staff, more than in the whole of last year, when from September to June there were 85,666 cases. It is clear that the contagiousness of the omicron variant makes it spread much faster than previous variants. The fact that it is less dangerous to health does not avoid the feeling of vulnerability that schools across the country have right now, and above all the concern that it generates in educational terms. The reality is that teachers and management teams are currently more concerned about covid than about their work, which inevitably has repercussions on children's learning and, at the same time, on the relationship with families.

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Data highlights the explosion in case numbers detected in schools: in just one day more than 15,000 infected students have been detected, the number of groups forced to isolate has almost doubled (from 78 to 158 in 24 hours) and about 7% of professionals working in schools are infected. The situation is pushing the centres –completely overwhelmed by the management of cases and sick leave– and families, who have many doubts about how to proceed, with constant changes. Even so, the Health Department assures that the changes in the protocol will stay in place. "The protocol in schools is working. Presentiality is a value that we want to defend to the maximum," said the secretary of Public Health, Carmen Cabezas. Catalan Health minister Josep Maria Argimon gave data: if the whole group were isolated when a positive case was detected in the classroom, now there would be 600,000 children not attending school. "And this would be a huge problem for families, let's be clear," he added. Right now there are 93,826 students and 7,409 teachers in isolation.

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