There was a great atmosphere at Senpere lake, Lapurdi, on 13th March. Although the weather was not good at first, the sun came out later in the day. As a result of the increase in the number of pupils at northern Basque Country ikastolas over recent years, Seaska has asked the French Government to allow it to employ 25 more teachers. However, until now they only have been allowed to take on four more teachers. There was a demonstration on 5th March at Bayonne to request more teachers for Basque schools.

Seaska's chairperson, Paxkal Indo, explained that four more teachers are far from enough to deal with their needs: "We need 25 more teachers to avoid having more than forty pupils in each class, and for children with disabilities to be able to study in dignified conditions." Pierre Barriere, the French Academy's inspector, has emphasised the need to focus on teacher training, saying that training, too, is a challenge to be met.

At the festivity in favour of ikastolas, Indo asked northern Basque Country politicians to help. He announced that Seaska had sent a motion to each town hall for it to be debated and passed.

Jean Rene Etxegarai, president of the Basque College (the Basque Institution for the northern Basque Country) expressed his concern at the French Academy's attitude – it is responsible for regulating languages and protecting French – and said that the future of Basque was at risk.

This article was translated by 11translations; you can see the original in Basque here.