Ikastolen Elkartea

Ikastolen Elkartea (Basque for 'Association of Ikastolas'; Spanish: Asociación de Ikastolas) is the umbrella federation of ikastolas — grassroots, community-founded schools that teach through the medium of the Basque language (euskara) — across the Basque Country. Its network spans the seven historical territories of Euskal Herria: Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Navarre in Spain, and Lower Navarre, Labourd and Soule in France, plus two ikastolas outside the Basque region, the Ikastola of Boise (Idaho, United States) and Colegio Ikastola in Necochea (Argentina). The federation presents itself as a transformative, cooperative and community-based educational movement. According to its official website, the network comprises 115 ikastolas, 46,000 families, 55,500 students and 5,500 workers, spread across seven territories. It describes its members as a popular, cooperative and prepared community of students, families, workers and supporters of the ikastola movement, committed to developing Basque-language education and to collaborating with other educational and social actors in the Basque Country. Within the Ikastolen Elkartea umbrella there is also Euskal Herriko Ikastolak S.C.E. (a European Cooperative Society based in Zamudio), which handles the publishing of the textbooks used in the ikastolas. Two territorial subdivisions group the ikastolas of Gipuzkoa (Gipuzkoako Ikastolen Elkartea Kop. El.) and of the Foral Community of Navarre (Nafarroako Ikastolen Elkartea S. Coop.). The association is governed by a president. Nekane Artola, previously vice-president, became president on 13 June 2023, succeeding Koldo Tellitu, who had presided over the association for 14 years until his resignation on 8 June 2023. The federation also organises major community events and campaigns, such as the Araba Euskaraz festival and the Tanta lottery, which raise funds and mobilise support for Basque-language schooling. As a brand and institution, Ikastolen Elkartea represents a distinctive model of grassroots, cooperative education tied to Basque language revitalisation, combining school governance, textbook publishing and public advocacy under a single federated identity.

Ikastolen Elkartea is the federation that coordinates the ikastola movement, a network of grassroots schools founded by Basque-speaking communities to educate children through the medium of euskara. The ikastolas emerged as a community response to the marginalisation of the Basque language, and the federation was created to give the movement a common institutional voice and shared services. Over time, the federation grew into a comprehensive network covering the seven historical territories of the Basque Country. According to its official website, the network today comprises 115 ikastolas, 46,000 families, 55,500 students and 5,500 workers across Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Navarre, Lower Navarre, Labourd and Soule. It also includes two ikastolas outside the Basque region: the Ikastola of Boise (Idaho, United States) and Colegio Ikastola in Necochea (Argentina). Within the Ikastolen Elkartea umbrella, Euskal Herriko Ikastolak S.C.E. — a European Cooperative Society based in Zamudio — is responsible for publishing the textbooks used in the ikastolas. Two territorial subdivisions group the ikastolas of Gipuzkoa (Gipuzkoako Ikastolen Elkartea Kop. El.) and of the Foral Community of Navarre (Nafarroako Ikastolen Elkartea S. Coop.). The association has been led by a president. Koldo Tellitu presided over Ikastolen Elkartea for 14 years until his resignation on 8 June 2023. Nekane Artola, previously vice-president, succeeded him as president on 13 June 2023. The federation is also known for mobilising the wider community through events and campaigns. The Araba Euskaraz festival, held in Amurrio in 2026, and the Tanta lottery, whose 2026 draw was won by a ticket sold by Azpeitia Ikastola, are examples of how the movement combines education with fundraising and cultural celebration. In 2026, the ikastolas called for the challenge of Basque-language acquisition to be placed at the centre of education and the public agenda.

• Koldo Tellitu resigns as president after 14 years

• Nekane Artola becomes president

• Araba Euskaraz festival opens in Amurrio

• Tanta lottery draw won by ticket sold by Azpeitia Ikastola

• Ikastolas call for Basque-language acquisition to be central to education and public agenda

A grassroots, cooperative and community-based federation of Basque-medium schools, positioned as a transformative educational movement for the Basque language and society.

• Basque-medium education (primary and secondary)

• Textbooks published by Euskal Herriko Ikastolak S.C.E.

1. 1Ataria | Ikastolakikastolak.eus
2. 2Ikastolen Elkartea - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Ikastolen Elkartea - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org