Route
Urduña Herri Eskola is defined by its historical struggle, its pedagogy rooted in Basque culture, and its commitment to a participatory and innovative educational model, always from the defense of the public sphere.
The Urduña Herri Eskola is the fruit of the tireless fight for public, secular and Basque education in Urduña, which was founded in 1995. Its history began in the 80s, when families, teachers and neighbors came together to reject Model D (Basque immersion) and oppose the education system that prioritized private schools.
In 1990, when religious institutions and schools refused to vacate the space, the community rehabilitated the old Customs House, an abandoned building that had become a symbol of resistance. There, among damp walls and limited resources, preschool and early childhood education classes were taught, with chairs donated by families and teachers working in poor conditions.
Today, Urduña Herri Eskola is a symbol of resistance, participation and educational quality, with several milestones, such as the creation of the first school cafeteria managed by volunteers and the launch of a self-managed kitchen.
City
Orduña, an enclave of Bizkaia, surrounded by small territories, is a historic city protected by a spectacular natural environment. It is located in the Gorobel mountain range and stands out for its mountainous landscape: the spectacular Nervión waterfall and the Txarlazo are symbols of the landscape. The old town, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, has medieval buildings, such as the church of Santa María and the town hall, witnesses to the past of the Exempt City (1229), a privilege that granted it autonomy for centuries.
Nowadays, tradition and modernity are combined in Orduña: the streets vibrate with festivals such as Otxomaio and other ancient traditions, while Basque and Spanish live in a multicultural atmosphere.
Small in size, but big in personality, it is a place where the community values its natural and cultural heritage, reflected in projects such as Urduña Herri Eskola, a public school born from a collective effort to preserve education in Basque.
Urduña Herri Eskola is a reflection of its land: connected to the city, supportive and Basque. It was not born in an office, but in the squares and streets where families, teachers and citizens united in support of public, decent and Basque-language education.
