Palma. The decision of the High Court falls in line with the Partido Popular party's election manifesto earlier this year, in which it defended the choice of language in schools Regional Education Minister and Partido Popular (PP)government spokesman Rafael Bosch said yesterday.
The Minister explained that the ruling comes three years after a parent claimed the right for his son to study in Castillian Spanish, as opposed to Catalan. Until now, said Bosch no-one had demanded that they be able to exercise this right, but one parent took the plunge and the Court has agreed with him.
Bosch said however, that nothing could be done to switch languages halfway through the academic year.
But he gave reassurances that from the start of the autumn term next year, parents will be able to exercise their choice but for the moment, only at infant education level.
The following year, the right will progressively be extended to other grades of education.
When parents know whether they want their children who are just starting school to learn in Catalan or Castellano, it should be declared at the time of registration and then the ministry can organise appropriate numbers of teaching staff.
To guarantee the right, he said, the Balearic government are drafting a new law establishing how families should go aboutregistering their preference.