Barcelona Provincial Council has published an updated version of the Educating Cities Charter for municipal education departments across the province. The document was presented during the 18th International Congress of Educating Cities in Granollers, and is designed to give local councils practical guidance based on their responsibilities and needs.
The original charter was created more than 30 years ago in Barcelona, when representatives from 90 cities met to set out a shared ethical framework. The new version keeps that spirit, while adding actions linked to the 20 principles of the charter and reflecting the views and contributions of municipalities.
The proposed actions can be led by municipal education departments, often with other council departments, local education boards, schools, educational communities and local associations. The council says the aim is to respond to current challenges at local level, including ecological and digital transitions, educational segregation, the risk of polarisation, democratic erosion, 36.5% child poverty and 13.5% early school leaving.
At the Granollers congress, the Barcelona Provincial Council has a stand with information on resources, publications and materials for municipalities in the province. The programme also includes study visits, including one to the Granullarius school in Granollers, which takes part in the Entrepreneurial Culture in Schools, or CuEmE, programme supported by the council.
Joan Galiano, the deputy for education, said the congress is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to place people at the centre of public policies. He said local governments need to lead across different sectors, linking education, culture, youth, social action, urban planning and participation, and to work with schools, universities, cultural organisations and citizen movements.
Marcel·lina Bosch, coordinator of the Education Area, is also representing the council and is due to speak at a congress workshop on 28 May. The council says its work on Educating Cities aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, and Sustainable Development Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities, within the United Nations 2030 agenda. More on local education policy can be found on the news tag page.