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In the Basque Country under French rule (Northern Basque Country or Iparralde), the Basque language is not official. In the French state, the only official language is French. Therefore, in French public schools, it is impossible to study entirely in a language other than French.

For this reason, private schools (parents' cooperatives) were created in 1969 in the North Basque Country so that children could study entirely in Basque. These are the so-called ikastolak, which already existed in the Southern Basque Country.

In The North Basque Country there are currently 38 ikastolak, which provide schooling for more than 4,000 children and young people (15% of primary school students attend ikastolak). It is possible to study in ikastolak from infancy to university entrance.

In Baiona, the capital of Iparralde, the network of ikastolak has a Lycée (higher education) in which some 400 young Basques study: the Lycée Bernart Etxepare. Well, this Lyceum has been recognized this year as the best Lyceum among the 2,315 lyceums of the French state. A recognition that demonstrates that in addition to a firm commitment to the Basque language and culture, the ikastolas offer an innovative and quality education.

It is therefore not surprising that more and more parents in The North Basque Country are choosing to provide their children with a comprehensive education in Basque.

News appeared in the Basque press (in Basque) about the distinction received by the Liceo Bernart Etxepare:

We are happy to announce the publishing of a series of articles about the current state of national languages in some of our 'stateless' European countries.

Join our effort to picture our present so to embrace a fair future for all!!

The aim of this series is to highlight the fact that millions of Europeans citizens are not allowed to live their language in normality in their motherland because of the open political battle that the state -to which these nations are currently subscribed to- holds against these languages when they are pointed out as the core reason for the existence of identities/cultures/traditions/nations other than the one and only embraced by the 'state'.

The majority of European citizens take for granted the privilege they have to be able to live their everyday live in their language within their country, without having to suffer the constant conflict -in every single living aspect- promoted by the 'state' and some state nationalists who refuse to speak, nor understand, the language of the land they choose to live in.

However, the weight of millennial cultures allows us to stand strong defending our universal right to exist. And by doing so, enrich this wonderful patchwork of languages and cultures that Europe represents. The power of people is robust and although some big corporate plans seem to be working against the very fabric of local cultures, we are convinced to overcome their drive to create a uniformed culture for a globalised world with a compulsory common digital identity that will, naturally, laminate the depth and diversity of cultural expressions.

We will be happy to hear your opinion and comments at info@icec.ngo

Keep safe with the courage of honesty towards freedom!

Here our first article covering the case of Euskera, the language of Euskal Herria (Basque Country):

La Comissió Internacional de Ciutadans Europeus (ICEC), que agrupa a Brussel·les diversos moviments sobiranistes del continent, renova el compromís per l’autodeterminació en el desè aniversari

Special broadcast celebrating 10 years of ICEC- International Comission of European Citizens, amb delegates from Scotland, Catalonia, Basque Country, Flanders, Veneto and Südtirol.