This is how the new Baccalaureate will be for excellent students

PalmThe Governing Council has given the go-ahead to the decree that sets the foundations for the new Baccalaureate Excellence Program (PEB), an initiative aimed at fostering and recognizing the academic performance of students with the most outstanding results. As explained by the Executive's spokesperson, Antoni Costa, the program will provide students with additional tools and a specific framework designed to enhance talent during the post-compulsory stage.

The regulation defines both the access requirements and the pedagogical structure of this excellence pathway, which seeks to offer a more tailored response to students with high abilities. With this rollout, the Government is promoting the creation of excellence classrooms and centers oriented towards students who wish to delve deeper into fields such as scientific, technological, humanistic, or artistic, with a more demanding and specialized training path.

The program incorporates advanced methodologies, research activities, training spaces, and work dynamics similar to university settings, with the aim of achieving competencies at a level higher than necessary to access university. The PEB is aimed at students who have demonstrated excellent academic performance during ESO and who meet the criteria established in the decree.

This educational offering can be provided in the modalities of Science and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Arts (in the pathway of Plastic Arts, Image, and Design). The new itinerary allows for personalized learning, increased academic rigor, and a response to diversity among high-achieving students as well.

Dual Baccalaureate Degree

Furthermore, the decree provides that students in the program can obtain a dual Bachelor's degree, in accordance with current state regulations. Some subjects necessary to complete this dual track may be taken online, a fact that will foster digital competence and broaden the available training offer. The pedagogical model emphasizes research, critical thinking, autonomous work, analysis and synthesis, as well as rigorous and structured communication.

Laboratory practices in science, text analysis and essay writing in humanities and social sciences, and artistic creation in the case of art education are also foreseen. This approach aims to offer comprehensive and advanced training, much closer to the higher education environment.

Regarding the teaching staff, they must have at least five years of experience as a permanent civil servant. In centers of excellence, access will be through a specific transfer competition that will take into account merits, training, and professional trajectory. Until this procedure is convened —with a maximum period of two years from the creation of the centers—, the provision of positions will be made through service commissions.

Finally, the decree also establishes evaluation and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the quality of the program and includes the possibility for the Institute of Evaluation and Quality to organize external tests without academic effects. The regulation will come into force the day after its publication in the BOIB.