Catalunya is pivoting sharply back to academic basics.
Timeline Set for Compulsory Lists and Center Plans
This reinstatement takes effect starting in the next academic cycle, arriving roughly two years after those same requirements were initially removed.
Beyond high school classrooms, the policy shift establishes a hard timeline.
All schools and institutes must now establish a formal reading plan—known as a Pla de Lectura de Centre (PLEC)—by the 2027–2028 academic year. Previously, the establishment of a PLEC was entirely voluntary.
Department Defends Urgent Pivot to Core Practices
Regional education authorities led the presentation outlining the changes. Department leadership defended the initiative directly, framing it as an urgent pivot back to core educational practices that need immediate strengthening across the school system.
Pen and Paper Return to the Classroom
The newly unveiled learning reinforcement guide encourages schools to prioritize fundamental skills. Educators are urged to bring back manual writing with pen and paper, regular spelling practice, reading aloud, and mental arithmetic.
According to the department, these methods have lost ground in recent years. Officials argue they require a deliberate re-emphasis to ensure students develop clarity, precision, and coherence in their writing.
Expanding Literacy Down to Primary Grades
The new measures extend far beyond high school hallways.
The guidelines urge educational centers to guarantee the selection and compulsory reading of key texts chosen by teaching teams. These requirements apply across the fifth and sixth grades of primary school, as well as throughout lower secondary education (ESO). Regional authorities indicated concrete plans to advance measures supporting school libraries.
Defining the PLEC Framework
The PLEC framework acts as a vital reference document for the broader educational community.
It defines specific objectives, methodologies, strategies, and resources dedicated to supporting reading competence. Its core pillars focus sharply on foundational reading skills, learning comprehension, and cultivating an enduring habit of reading among students.
