Andorran Secondary Students Debate Rising Machoism in Youth at Parliament

Secondary students from five Andorran schools are competing in the third edition of the national secondary and baccalaureate debate league at the Consell General hemicycle, part of the Xarxa Vives universities network. The motion under discussion—"Are we facing a more machoistic youth?"—requires teams to argue both sides across multiple rounds, with the winner advancing to represent Andorra at the University of Alicante final on 22 April.

The event, now in its third year at the parliament, began Wednesday and continues through Thursday. Participating schools include Escola Andorra de Batxillerat, Agora International School, Col·legi Sant Armengol, Lycée Comte de Foix, and Col·legi Espanyol Maria Moliner. Teams of five to seven students must cite sources for claims, fostering rigorous research and fact-checking, while rotating speakers and rebuttals. Preparation has overlapped with exam periods, though schools report students generally view gender equality as fundamental and reject intolerable behaviors.

Síndic General Carles Ensenyat opened the proceedings, describing the hemicycle as ideal training for potential future councillors. He stressed the topic's timeliness, citing rising machoistic violence and attacks on women in public office as evidence of a societal uptick in such attitudes. Ensenyat noted progress toward equality is not inevitable, sometimes regressing, and called for efforts across all government branches. A longtime advocate for women's rights, including abortion decriminalization, he emphasized that Andorra's institutional system presents hurdles but demands collective action. He urged female debaters to speak boldly and voiced hope that the Xarxa Vives final might one day take place at the Consell General, despite logistical challenges.

Iñaki Rubio, educational coordinator at the Ministry of Institutional Relations, Education and Universities, highlighted the format's benefits: in-depth research, source verification, empathy, teamwork, eloquence, and reasoning beyond absolutes. He stated that mere participation amounts to success, with the parliamentary setting imposing a motivational pressure that has elevated discourse quality over three years due to its solemnity.

The jury comprises education professionals, conselleres generals Maria Àngels Aché and Meritxell Alcobé, and AQUA director Isaac Galobardes.

On Wednesday afternoon, Col·legi Espanyol Maria Moliner argued the affirmative against Agora International School, which prioritized data over anecdotes, maintaining machoism exists but has not risen. Maria Moliner countered with examples like street harassment and falling female engineering enrollment, fielding rebuttals during speeches.

An institutional event for International Women's Day is set for 2 March at the Consell General, where women in public roles—including comune councilloresses, cònsols, ministers, state secretaries, and justice officials—will read a jointly agreed manifesto, "Declaration in Favour of Gender Equality and Against Any Form of Sexism."