Fica Espanhol no Paraná

Trajectory, Struggles, and Achievements in Favor of Plurilingualism in Basic Education

Abstract

This paper briefly presents the trajectory of actions and perspectives of the Fica Espanhol no Paraná movement. The historical emphasis is on the works recorded from 2016 onwards, when the then-president of the republic proposed changes to the National Education Guidelines and Framework Law, directly affecting language policies. Those proposals were approved, and in 2017, they culminated in Law 13.415, which removed the right to consult the school community and established, in an undemocratic manner, a single language as a mandatory offering in all schools across the country. In face of so many discretionary actions, protests began to emerge, and public universities in Paraná united to fight for plurilingualism, democracy in language policies, and a law that would ensure the right to learn the Spanish language in Basic Education (EB) in Paraná. Through extensive political mobilization, with the participation of elementary school teachers, students from Spanish Language courses at Higher Education Institutions (IES) in Paraná, and representative authorities, the movement achieved significant results, culminating in the approval of an amendment to the constitution of the state of Paraná. This amendment guarantees the offer of Spanish language education in the Middle School and High School levels. At this moment, "Fica Espanhol no Paraná" is monitoring the law’s implementation and fighting for it to be effectively carried out.