News

UNICEF grants Formentera seal of 'Child-friendly City'

Tuesday, 21 October 2014 08:46

consell joventut2 The reward at the end of a long road, Formentera has at last received the recognition of UNICEF's Child-friend City programme (CFC), an initiative whose objective it is to promote local application of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and at the same time support the joint efforts of the different municipalities that boast the distinction.

The decision to bestow the island with the UNICEF programme's quality seal came after a round of assessment -which takes place only once every two years- determined Formentera to be eligible. An evaluation committee traveled to the island in September in order to establish whether the projects overseen by the Council met with the programme's criteria.

Among other factors, the committee took into account the active inclusion of children in the political process, the routine creation of local youth plans, and the promotion of policies that benefit children. The UNICEF seal will be awarded 7 November in a ceremony to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The distinction is a nod for all of the work that the Formentera Council has conducted in support of children and adolescents. In 2012, the Comité Balear of UNICEF provided the Formentera Office of Youth Services with an acknowledgement of good practises as part of the fourth annual call to recognise promotion of rights of the child and effective local policy. The evaluation applauded local efforts to promote equality, the work of Formentera's youth council, and the efforts of the “Es Molí” Social Centre.

The decision to grant this most-recent accolade was announced 17 October, when the Formentera Council learned it would join the councils of Eivissa, Maó and Santanyí on the list of Balearic municipalities to receive the honour in 2014. A total of 119 municipalities in Spain have been awarded the 'Child-friendly City' distinction.

The jury that grants the title is formed by the Spanish chapter of UNICEF, the Spanish Department of Health, Social Services and Equality, the Federation of Spanish Municipalities and Provinces and the University Institute of Needs and Rights of Children and Adolescents.

“A source of great motivation to continue in the struggle for youth rights”

Formentera's councillor of social welfare and youth services, Dolores Fernández Tamargo, hailed the distinction as “a source of great motivation to continue in the struggle for youth rights, not to mention proof of the work done by the adult population of Formentera to support its children and adolescents, the future of this island.”

According to Councillor Fernández, “not only does the UNICEF jury's ruling applaud the creation of the local youth council, it also acknowledges a host of other projects presented as part of the Formentera Council's bid, including both past efforts and projects that are envisioned for the 2014-2018 period.”

Councillor Fernández thanked the workers of local social services and educational institutions, and in particular acknowledged the important work being done by Formentera's primary schools and secondary school, before also recognising “the task of my colleagues in the public administration who have been so invested in the project.”

Statement from the Formentera Island Council concerning the sentences handed down by the TSJIB with respect to the TIL

Friday, 26 September 2014 01:53

In light of the three sentences, issued 22 September 2014, by the Contentious Administrative Hall of the Balearic Islands Superior Court of Justice declaring null and void Decree 15/2013 [19 April] which regulates the use of languages at non-university educational centres in the Balearic Islands (known as Decret TIL), and in light of the sentence issued on the present date, which declares null and void the order that established the implementation of the Decret TIL, the Formentera Island Council wishes to state the following:

1. The court rulings, in addition to nullifying the Decret TIL, state that application of the decree “is of considerable significance for the Catalan language because it effects an undermining of the use of Catalan in the educational process and a reduction in the use of Catalan in teaching.” The sentence (number 443) continues: “...from this perspective, if it is the duty of the public administration to ensure linguistic normalisation in the Balearic Islands, a change from a bilingualist to trilingualist educational model, whose objective it is that the citizens of tomorrow achieve a total and perfect command of three languages – the two official languages and one foreign, this a response to recommendations by the European Union as well as to the undeniable fact that European citizens are at present obliged a certain familiarity with the language of greatest influence in the European context – must also surely impact the process of linguistic normalisation.”

2. The TSJIB ruling finds that insofar as the Catalan language and its normalisation in the educational context is affected, the Decret TIL impacts the assessorial and preceptive functions assigned to the Universitat de les Illes Balears by article 35 of the Balearic Islands Statute of Autonomy.

3. The rulings issued by the TSJIB find that Decree 15/2013 [19 April] (Decret TIL), which regulates the use of languages at non-university educational centres in the Balearic Islands, as well as the secondary order establishing the implementation of that decree, contained neither the scientific, nor the academic, nor the pedagogical consideration required of such a decree.

4. The Formentera Island Council, as manifested on numerous occasions through plenary accords and through its participation in the Consell Escolar de les Illes Balears (Academic Council of the Balearic Islands), opposed the development of the TIL, its lack of necessary financial support –a fact also mentioned in the TSJIB sentences–, and the precipitated manner in which the new linguistic projects were imposed on educational centres. Moreover, the Formentera Island Council holds firm in its conviction that no change to the educational model shall be imposed if it is detrimental to the process of linguistic normalisation of the language of the Balearic Islands, nor shall a change be imposed if it represents an aggression to the agents comprising the educational system. The future of our students is too important, and the autonomy of our educational centres and that of their respective academic councils -the most informed parties with respect to local linguistic circumstances- must be respected.

5. It is therefore our conviction that the sentences handed down today and yesterday by the TSJIB are an opportunity for the Govern Balear to reflect and reconsider its decisions in a manner that values consensus.

Radio stations and other comments: Sònia Cardona, councillor of Education of the Formentera Council, 666155829

Array of Catalan courses for range of levels

Tuesday, 23 September 2014 08:10

cursos catala The Formentera Council, by way of its Linguistic Assessment Service, has opened enrolment for a series of Catalan courses to be given at the local Escola d'Adults (school for adults). Enrolment ends 3 October, just a few days before the first classes are scheduled to begin.

The classes were created with the goal of making Catalan study available to anyone interested. During the 2013-2014 academic calendar, the number of students attending classes or having attended at some point reached one hundred twenty. Students can enrol at the Citizen Information Office (la OAC) or either one of the Linguistic Assessment Service's two information points, located at the office of culture and the Escola d'Adults.

This year, there are a total of nine Catalan courses available. Timetables vary from morning to evening and all language levels are offered. The beginner's level course (A2) will be divided into three different groups as will Intermediate Catalan (B1-B2). Advanced Catalan (C1-C2) will be split into two different groups, and a conversation group will also be organised. The most exciting change this year is the coordination between the Linguistic Assessment Service and the school for adults.

The anticipated timetables for the different courses are as follows: Elementary Catalan (A2), Mondays and Wednesdays, [1] 5:15-6:15pm or [2] 8:15-9:15pm; or Tuesdays and Thursdays, [3] 9:15-10:15am. Intermediate Catalan – a combination of both the B1 and B2 levels – will be offered either as a mixed-level group Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15pm, or as two split groups: (B1) Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:15-11:15am; and (B2) 11:15am-12:15pm.

As for the two mixed-level C1-C2 courses, they will be given Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:15-8:15pm, or Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:15-1:15pm. Finally, the conversation group will meet Wednesdays from 9:15-10:15am.

All of the courses are free, and, depending on the group, will start on either 6 or 7 October, while end dates are contingent upon the official testing schedules dictated by the Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics. At the present moment, two rounds of official Catalan exams are anticipated: one in February and one in May, 2015.

FiC to put Ca ses Ferreres terrain up for auction

Tuesday, 23 September 2014 20:53

cases Ferreres 1 The Formentera Council has decided to sell the terrain known as 'Ca ses Ferreres' by public auction. Both the land and the house constructed thereupon, located in El Pilar de la Mola, are property of the Council. The auction can take place only after notice is given in the Official Bulletin of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) and, following this, once a two-month wait period has elapsed. Publication of such a notice in the BOIB is expected to happen in the coming days.

The decision was made in light of the fact that the terrain is neither associated with any public service nor is it expected to be in the near future. The home at 'Ca ses Ferreres' is on rural land and has neither water, electricity nor sewage service.

According to economic services of Formentera Council, sale of 'Ca ses Ferreres' is the most adequate solution given the advanced state of degradation of the house.

Appraisal of all the 'Ca ses Ferreres' property, the house and the plots located thereupon – which consist of some 15,000 square metres – was conferred to TINSA Ltd. The total value was set at €429,615.15.

The property was already put up for public tender once in December 2013 following the same procedure, at which time an estimated value of €529,606.20 was given.

Sa Miranda nursery school kicks off 2014-15 academic year with new classroom and 58 new students

Wednesday, 17 September 2014 10:27

Escoleta2014 aula nova Sa Miranda nursery school (known commonly as l'escoleta) which falls under the administration of the Formentera Island Council's office of education, opened its doors this morning to pupils and proceeded through the first day of the 2014-2015 school year without a hitch.

For 58 pupils, today was the first day of classes ever. Counting the centre's 40 returning students, Sa Miranda will take in a total of 98 students the 2014-15 academic year. The Sa Miranda centre is composed of one classroom for newborns, three classrooms for ages 1-2 and three for 2-3 year olds.

This year's enrolment figures represent an increase of 18 pupils compared to last year (when a total of 80 were registered). The increase was made possible thanks to remodel work performed at the school in July and August. The changes – a new classroom, a new cafeteria and a more hygienic vinyl flooring in the centre's oldest classrooms, as well as general maintenance and a new paint job – have left Sa Miranda shining. The total cost of these improvements was 90,000€.

With teacher-pupil ratios unchanged, the physical remodel of Sa Miranda is not expected to negatively impact the quality of education there. To ensure this continued quality, the Council of Formentera has hired two new educators, bringing the total number of teachers at the centre to twelve.

Sa Miranda nursery school is an educational centre belonging to the network of public nurseries in the Balearic Islands. The pedagogy employed at the school -and the style of organisation- are founded on the principle of the right of the child to receive an education that is constructed around his real needs (physical, psychological, emotional, personal, intellectual, social, etc.)

It is the hope of the educational staff at Sa Miranda that the centre be a place of mutual respect for different cultures, non-discriminatory and democratic, where equal opportunities are promoted for all pupils and full respect is given the surrounding natural, social and cultural environments.

The Formentera Island Council devotes a substantial part of the office of education's annual budget to the administration of the Sa Miranda nursery school. Yearly funding for the centre tops 460,000€, and the largest portion of that amount goes to staff hiring. In 2013, the Formentera Island Council received 3,733.26€ from the Govern Balear in Palma for maintenance of public centres of early education like Sa Miranda.