News

Uncertainty about English

Article 155 has delayed parliamentary approval of the moratorium on the prerequisite of students having a B2 language level to obtain a degree

The implementation of Article 155 by Madrid has consequences beyond politics. One of these affects students in Catalan universities, who have doubts that the four-year moratorium on needing a B2 level in a foreign language (equivalent to 1st Certificate in English) to be able to graduate will be approved in Parliament in the forseeable future and others finishing their studies who fear they may not complete their degree.

The moratorium, agreed to by the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia (CIC), answered demands of students and the universities as otherwise many students may not graduate. That agreement needs the approval of parliament but with 155, the elections and the current political situation, the system is in limbo.

The urgency has arisen as students who enrolled in the 2014-15 academic year are about to graduate but are unclear if they in fact need B2 or not. The universities, apart from one, have pledged to award degrees even if there is not enough time for parliamentary approval. However, Universitat Pomeu Fabra maintains it will enforce the regulations in place, claiming that if it does not, then it would be discriminating against those students who made the effort to obtain B2, according to Jaume Casals, the UPF Rector.

The Spanish Ministry claims it has not made any decision as it believes there is still time for parliament to approve the moratorium.

Catalan Student Council representative, Paul Parals says that students leaving secondary school do not have the level needed in English and many cannot afford to pay for the extra classes given in the universities.

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