In Spain, the debate continues over paid services in schools that are officially state-funded. According to recent data, parents in Catalonia, Madrid, and the Basque Country face the highest mandatory fees for their children’s education. In these regions, almost all schools require monthly payments, which sometimes even exceed the cost of some private institutions.
In Catalonia, for example, one Barcelona school charges parents more than a thousand euros per month. The average fee here is also the highest in the country — about 220 euros. In Madrid and the Basque Country, the amounts are slightly lower, but still well above the Spanish average. In Madrid, for instance, there are schools where the monthly fee reaches up to 277 euros.
Payments are divided into several categories: a basic fee, which by law should not be mandatory, additional services such as access to educational platforms, and optional extras like meals or transportation. However, in practice, the basic fee is demanded in almost 70% of schools, and in some cases, children may even be denied entry to class for non-payment. Such incidents are especially common in Madrid, where up to a third of schools enforce these measures.
Over the past ten years, the situation has only worsened. Both the amounts and the share of commercial schools operating as business entities have increased. In Madrid, half of these educational institutions are commercial organizations rather than charitable foundations or religious congregations. Commercial schools have higher average fees, and the risk of expulsion for non-payment is nearly nine times greater than in non-profit schools.
A recent deal has raised particular concern: a Swiss insurance company acquired eight schools, seven of which are located on municipal land and are exempt from local taxes. This sparked a wave of criticism, as such schools generate profits using public resources while paying no taxes. Experts speak of a new model of ‘public-private’ education, where profit takes precedence over the interests of students and parents.
As a result, the gap between regions and types of schools is widening across the country. The average fee at commercial institutions is 114 euros, while at religious and charitable schools it is 74 euros. The issue of fairness and accessibility in education in Spain has once again come to the forefront of public debate.
