Rovira denies 'pressure' in language base consultation and recalls 'the obligation of impartiality'

José Antonio Rovira, the Minister of Education, Culture, Universities, and Employment, has reiterated that educational institutions "are obliged to maintain impartiality in any process," such as the upcoming selection of the base language, while denying any "pressure" from his department.

This Friday, associations of parents (AMPA), the group Families for Valencian, and Compromís accused the Ministry of Education of "censorship" after, according to them, the Educational Inspection removed banners from schools supporting the choice of Valencian in the vehicular language consultation.

In response, the Education Minister asserted: "There are no coercions, threats, or pressures. Those belong to the past. The Ministry is entirely neutral in a process where the important thing is that families freely vote for the language they prefer."

Rovira highlighted that neutrality in educational institutions "is not new, it has been established for many years." He recalled that Organic Law 8/1985, which regulates the right to education, in its article 18, states that "all public institutions will conduct their activities in accordance with constitutional principles, guaranteeing ideological neutrality and respecting the religious and moral options referred to in article 27.3 of the Constitution."

"Public educational institutions are part of the administration, and teachers are civil servants, so they are obliged to maintain neutrality. This is also stated in Legislative Decree 5/2015, Basic Statute of Public Employees, in its article 52, which outlines the duties of public employees and the Code of Conduct," he noted.

The head of the Consell's educational policy described Compromís's criticisms as "absolutely deceptive," while noting that they reveal "an inappropriate nervousness about a consultation that gives families a voice to vote freely." "The Ministry will respect what families vote for, as both options are valid. We respect that there are parties advising one option, but from the Ministry, that will not be done, because it is the key to freedom, even if some do not understand it," he added.

"I don't know why there are parties and groups that consider families dangerous or believe they lack the ability to decide for themselves, but this Government made a commitment in the 2023 elections and will fulfil it," he stated.

The Minister reiterated that "this administration does not favour either language, unlike the Botànic, which we know favoured linguistic immersion, resulting in numerous court rulings against it." He cited as an example "linking the weight of teaching hours in Valencian with a greater load of English, which was the approach of Puig's Consell."