The Bilingual and Intercultural Border Schools Project (PEBIF) as a Strategy for Linguistic Integration and Cross- Border Cooperation : An Example of Educational Action between Northern Portugal and Galicia

Guimarães, Thayse Figueira and Araújo e Sá, Maria Helena (2025) The Bilingual and Intercultural Border Schools Project (PEBIF) as a Strategy for Linguistic Integration and Cross- Border Cooperation : An Example of Educational Action between Northern Portugal and Galicia. JOURNAL OF ADVANCED STUDIES ON BORDERS COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, 1. pp. 75-96. ISSN 3057-9872

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Abstract

This article analyses the experience of the Bilingual and Intercultural Border Schools Programme (PEBIF) as a policy for linguistic integration and cross-border cooperation, situated on the border between Northern Portugal and Galicia. It discusses its contributions to promoting plurilingualism, interculturality, and cross-border citizenship. Based on a qualitative approach—combining participant observation, interviews with teachers, and document analysis—the study describes collaborative pedagogical practices developed between mirror schools in Salvaterra de Miño (Galicia) and Monção (Portugal). By understanding border regions not merely as geopolitical boundaries, but as territories traversed by flows, tensions, and social ties, the article helps fill an empirical gap in studies on European integration by giving visibility to the voices and concrete actions of teachers who, in their daily school routines, implement strategies of intercomprehension and appreciation of local languages. The analysis proposes a critical reflection on the factors that foster or hinder cross-border integration, highlighting the role of language policies, identity pressures, and regional authorities in constructing a plurilingual education that is sensitive to border realities and to the individuals who inhabit them.

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