Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, reflects a strong regional identity within Spain’s national early childhood education framework. Following the “Educación Infantil” structure ([Reference 1]), children have universal and free access to the second cycle (ages 3–6), focusing on emotional, language, and cognitive development.
In Bilbao, bilingual education is emphasized through the “Modelo D” system ([Reference 2]), where Basque (Euskara) is the primary language of instruction, promoting fluency alongside Spanish. Many preschools offer full Basque immersion or bilingual models, reinforcing regional cultural identity from an early age.
The Basque government also invests in early education innovation through initiatives like “Heziberri 2020” ([Reference 3]), which encourages child-centered learning, outdoor education, and family engagement.
As a kindergarten director, I find Bilbao’s integration of linguistic heritage, strong academic structure, and emphasis on child-centered growth a remarkable model—showing how education can nurture deep roots while fostering open, inquisitive minds.

References:

• [1] Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training: Educación Infantil Framework

• [2] Basque Government: Language Models in Education (Modelo D System)

• [3] Heziberri 2020: Basque Early Childhood Education Strategy