Step back: the Government will recover mandatory readings in high school next academic year

BarcelonaBack to basics. Back to the essentials. This is the foundation of the learning reinforcement measures that the Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, presented this Thursday. Measures that will focus on improving how the two main pillars of learning are taught: language and reading comprehension, and mathematics. Among the guidelines, a relevant change has been announced: next school year there will once again be mandatory readings in baccalaureate, and all schools and high schools must have a school reading plan.

As explained by the Secretary of Improvement, the Government "is already working" to recover mandatory readings in baccalaureate for the 2027-2028 school year. These will be common readings for all of Catalonia with specific titles that, therefore, all students in the 1st and 2nd year of baccalaureate will have to read, regardless of which branch—scientific, humanistic, social, or technological—they have chosen to study. It should be remembered that Catalonia will have gone three school years without mandatory readings in baccalaureate.

Beyond this announcement, the Department of Education has presented a series of learning reinforcement guidelines for the rest of the educational years. "They are a series of high-efficiency practices," defended the Secretary of Educational Improvement, Ignasi Giménez, in the explanation of the measures, noting that "they are guidelines, not orders, because schools and high schools have school autonomy." One of the main proposals is also in reading comprehension: that there be "some key books" that must be read from the 5th grade of primary school and throughout secondary education (ESO). However, this measure has many nuances. First, it will not be mandatory for all centers, since in practice this is only a guideline. Second, the key readings will not be set by the department, but rather it will be the teachers themselves who will decide what all their students must read.

The Department of Education explains that, in addition to the proposal, guides will also be provided on how to work with readings so that it does not become "a simple check of whether the reading has been read or not." In this sense, the Government is working with the goal that by the next school year, all schools and institutes will have a reading plan in effect. Although they insist that many centers already have one and apply it, only 700 out of the 2,500 schools and institutes have a plan that meets the characteristics set by the Government. Here, it should be taken into account that according tothe latest 2024 data, 30% of schools and institutes do not have a library.

Regarding language, it will be recommended to schedule writing "tasks" with paper and pen, such as essays, summaries, and outlines, or to request written developed responses. It will also be recommended to work on orality "frequently and in a guided manner."

All students with paper materials

Another key guideline is that it will be proposed that all students, regardless of their grade level, have at least "a written support, reference, structured, and permanent material". This material may be the traditional textbook or dossiers with the essential contents of each subject. Furthermore, they must be on paper and not for consultation on a tablet or a computer. Again, this is a guideline, not an obligation.

The other pillar of learning reinforcement is in mathematics. In this area, it is recommended to focus on mental calculation. The Government proposes dedicating "brief and frequent" sessions to mental calculation with specific strategies. It is also urged to "encourage reflection" so that students "estimate" the results before performing the calculation so they can assess their coherence. Additionally, it is recommended to pose mathematical problems for students to solve by interpreting a situation, identifying relevant data, and justifying the strategies they have used and the conclusions they have reached.