2008 - November ANGEL DIEZ

SOCIAL SITUATION

SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN VILAFRANCA

Seminar IPLE - IDAPVilafranca del Penedès. 2008 - November

2008 - November A. Diez

The Spanish regulation of the educational system: an overview

• Constitutional Law: 1978(Constitutional development:)

o Right of Education Law: 1985 individual’s rights participation in ruling the schools dual system: public and private institutions

o General Law of the Educational system: 2006o Qualifications and Professional Formation Law: 2002o Attribution of competences:

The State The Lands (17 autonomic lands)

2008 - November A. Diez

Some problems…

• The increase of population(Catalonia: 6 million to 7,5 million)

• The immigration phenomenon(Catalonia: 15 %, increasing)

• The adaptation to technological changes (and the school tradition)

• The legal changes:o General Laws: 1970, 1990, 2002, 2006

• A certain perception of failure

2008 - November A. Diez

Some real facts…

• The increase of economic development• The integration in Europe

(the adaptation to the European citizenshipand the application of the European Council criteria: Lisbon, Bologna… )

• Educational investments:o More and best educational facilitieso Teacher’s formation

• 100 % population integrated in schools (from 3 years to 16 years old)

• The claims to the school: full education

2008 - November A. Diez

Some tendencies…

• More autonomy for school decisions(but within an extensive regulation)

o pedagogical, organizational, economical…

• Progressive application of new technologies(Informatics in the classroom)

• The model of the comprehensive school(from 3 years to 16 years old)(general curricula and individual curriculum)

• Extension of technical studies

2008 - November A. Diez

Some thoughts…

• Parents have their own role and responsibility• Statistics are related to Institutions more than

to people• Students are people first of all

o 1) focus on the persono 2) instruct the student

• The success or failure of the students is related to the personal expectations

2008 - November A. Diez

Vilafranca del Penedès

• 40.000 population (approx.)• 18 % immigration in schools (compulsory level)

(from North Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, …)(immigration is a new phenomenon, all schools are affected)

• Public (65 %) and private (35 %) schools:o Nursery, Child,o Compulsory level: Primary, Secondary,o Not compulsory: High Secondary, Professional,o Others studies: Music, Languages, Arts, Adults

2008 - November A. Diez

Diversified curriculum at the secondary school

• All the schools can apply it to the students (12 – 16 years old)

• There are several possibilities of a different curriculum (the rule is adaptation to the group)

• The goal is to make the capacity of the student fit with the main competences fixed in the official curriculum(the schools are guided by experts)

• Statistics show that from 65 % to 85 % of the students finish the compulsory level and obtain a certificate

2008 - November A. Diez

Open Classrooms

• It is a strong option of a diversified curriculum• In Catalonia there is an important number of

schools with this modality:o in particular, public schoolso in collaboration with the local administrationo an experience increasing since 10 years agoo normally, one group of students

not more than 20 students (15-16 years old) participation is voluntary curriculum implies contact with real businesses in all the cases, the perception is positive (by the

schools, families, and students besides academic results)

2008 - November A. Diez

Open Classroomsin Vilafranca del Penedès

• The 3 public secondary schools have this option, called MAP Classrooms:

o IES Milà I Fontanalso IES Eugeni d’Ors, o IES Alt Penedès

• The formula is:o motivation + responsibility + personal attention

• The method is:o Productive Learning

• Results are highly satisfactory• You have today the opportunity to know directly

this experience…