Andorra Catalan Centres Double Users to Nearly 20,000 in One Year

Andorra's Catalan language centres recorded 22,413 users in the 2025-2026 academic year, more than doubling the 9,985 from the previous year across the five locations.

Accompanied self-study drew 19,941 participants, a sharp rise from 7,586, while in-person courses increased slightly to 1,672 from 1,599. Virtual asynchronous training held steady at 800 users.

The growth aligns with requirements for A1-level proficiency on first residence and work permit renewals, boosting entry-level interest. Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Mònica Bonell presented the figures on Friday, noting that even those unable to join scheduled classes can learn through the centres. "If someone is left out of in-person classes, they can still learn the language at the Catalan centres," she said.

The government will launch the "Come to the Catalan centres and get the most out of them" campaign on Monday, September 14, running until October 16. Produced for €6,661 by GECOM, it targets social media, the Language Policy Department's website, posters, and leaflets in libraries, public buildings, and administrative areas frequented by newcomers, such as residence permit offices.

Language Policy Department Director Joan Sans described the centres' flexibility, allowing users to receive professional guidance at convenient times and advance from A1 to C1 with materials aligned to group classes and online tools. Results equip participants for official exams, matching in-person outcomes. He said centres adapt to users' schedules to balance work, family, and learning.

Extended hours address demand: La Massana and Encamp now run 8:30am to 8:30pm, like Escaldes-Engordany; Canillo expands to three days weekly from two; and Pas de la Casa to two from one.

For the 2026-2027 first semester's in-person courses, provisional figures show 763 accepted registrations, 495 on the waiting list, and 183 invalid entries. An update is due September 16, with potential vacancies from no-shows possibly allocated to waitlisted individuals. Asynchronous virtual slots total 400 provisionally. Sans noted demand for in-person courses has not risen significantly, unlike centre usage, and expanding supply would require unsustainable staffing.

Staffing has grown to 24 professionals from 16, though one vacancy leaves 23. Bonell cited recruitment challenges for Catalan experts, shared with Catalonia, and called for more youth to study Catalan philology. She plans to repeat the campaign each academic year.