Free After-School Support Plan Unveiled
ERC is set to present a resolution at the Catalan Parliament next week calling for the creation of a €25 million pilot programme to provide free educational support to schoolchildren and teenagers outside regular class hours. The initiative, targeting the 2027–2028 academic year, aims to reduce educational inequality and improve student performance in key areas such as mathematics, reading comprehension, exam preparation and homework assistance. The party’s proposal frames the scheme as a new public service fully funded by the Generalitat, the regional government, to ensure access is not limited by family income. The resolution will be debated during the upcoming general policy debate in Parliament, where it must secure enough votes to become a binding directive for the government of President Salvador Illa.
Barcelona Tax Revenue to Fund Local Programme
The parliamentary proposal draws inspiration from a parallel initiative in Barcelona, where the city council plans to allocate an additional €4.7 million from increased tourist tax receipts to fund free school reinforcement activities. This funding will come from a planned rise in the municipal tourist surcharge on cruise passengers stopping in the city, which is expected to reach €12 per person in 2027 and €24 by 2030. An agreement between the PSC, ERC and Junts has advanced the initial approval of the tax increase, despite opposition from Barcelona en Comú, the PP and Vox. The city council’s tourism tax has previously funded local projects, including the School Climate Plan and extracurricular activities, as confirmed on the Barcelona City Council website.
Push for Dialogue on Education Reform
ERC leader Oriol Junqueras has launched a series of meetings with education stakeholders, including teachers, families, unions, school directors and local councils, to gather input on systemic challenges. The party says these consultations aim to build consensus through dialogue, positioning education as a top priority for the current political season. The move follows recent controversy over Catalonia’s handling of PISA test administration, which the Illa government admitted was flawed, invalidating results and prompting a parliamentary appearance by the president. Improving PISA outcomes is explicitly cited in ERC’s resolution as a key objective of the proposed support programme.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Consorci d'Educació de Barcelona, Barcelona City Council. Reported by elperiodico.com, qoshe.com, totbarcelona.cat, beteve.cat, elperiodico.cat, barna.news, larazon.es, El Debate, Parlament de Catalunya, lavanguardia.com, El Periódico (CA).
