Catalan-language school network in France marks 50 years

La Bressola, a network of Catalan-medium schools in Northern Catalonia, is marking its 50th anniversary with plans to expand after emerging from a financial crisis that threatened its future.

Northern Catalonia is a region in southeastern France that was once officially part of Catalonia and still maintains strong cultural and linguistic ties with its southern neighbour.

La Bressola now has more than 1,000 pupils across nine schools and is seeking funding to open a new high school in Perpignan within the next year or two.

The organisation's president, Guillem Nivet, said La Bressola had emerged "stronger" from the crisis after "rethinking" its model without closing any schools or laying off staff.

Financial difficulties overcome

The organisation faced serious financial difficulties in recent years after Perpignan City Council, led by Louis Aliot of the far-right National Rally, withdrew several subsidies.

Additional taxes further strained its finances, prompting La Bressola to launch a fundraising campaign to keep its schools operating.

Thousands of people also took to the streets in support of the Catalan-language education network.

Contributions from public institutions, associations and individuals helped the organisation through the crisis. Nivet said its financial situation was now "stabilised" and that it was in a position to remain viable in the short and medium term.

High school

The organisation is now working to secure funding for a high school planned at the Vernet Monastery in Perpignan, Nivet explained. La Bressola already has all the necessary permits and hopes to open the school within one or two years.

"Now is the time" to move ahead with what he called La Bressola's "most ambitious" project, extending its network into upper secondary education. "It is important to preserve that sense of community," he said.

Nivet also said La Bressola wanted to open more primary schools, describing them as the "foundation" of the organisation.

Catalan government support

Catalonia's language policy minister, Francesc Xavier Vila, reaffirmed the Catalan government's support for La Bressola at an event on Wednesday to mark the organisation's 50th anniversary.

The government increased its funding to La Bressola by €150,000 after learning of its financial difficulties.

"La Bressola won't have problems because of a lack of support from us," Vila said.

50 years

La Bressola opened its first school on September 16, 1976, with just seven pupils.

Founded to promote Catalan language and culture in Northern Catalonia, it now runs seven nursery and primary schools and two secondary schools, with Catalan as the language of instruction.

The network's 50th-anniversary celebrations began earlier this year and include an exhibition tracing its history.

The anniversary event on Wednesday featured several Catalan-language songs created by pupils, a music video and a live painting performance.

Other political representatives also addressed the gathering, including the vice-president of the Pyrénées-Orientales departmental council, Nicolàs Garcia, and the vice-president of the regional council, Agnès Langevine.

The president of the Amics de la Bressola association, Geoffroy Lourdou, and former pupils also took part.

A concert featuring around 15 artists, including Pascal Comelade, Maria Hein, Ferran Palau and Triquell, will be held in Girona on September 25.