Overview
- The Navarre government has authorized the closure of 14 subsidized ('itunpeko') early‑childhood classrooms, citing a sustained drop in birth rates that reduces demand for places.
- A legislative text that applies public‑school pupil‑ratio rules to the subsidized network from 2027–28 passed after Geroa Bai and EH Bildu abstained and received backing from PP and Vox.
- The dispute has crystallized around Lizarra ikastola, where 31 children enrolled, the school requested two classrooms, the government contracted one, and six children were redirected to a nearby D‑model public school.
- The Basque Government presented its 2026–2030 Euskararen Plan with targeted programs such as Euskara Bonua, Ingura, Lanera and Euskorpora while municipalities like Irun approved local Aroa Euskera plans to boost transmission and everyday use.
- Local civic projects and community networks are expanding services and activities to sustain Euskera and social ties, and the policy shift could heighten pressure on ikastolas, religious schools and families as administrations reassign scarce early‑education resources.