In Spain, debates are flaring up again over the organization of graduation exams. Opposition party leaders are demanding the government clearly define how exams will be held in 2026, and to do so no later than September. They argue that delays in decision-making could lead to a repeat of the chaos that ensued in previous years due to the pandemic and confusion over exam regulations.
Over the past two years, Spanish students and their families have faced serious challenges. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many students missed a significant portion of in-person classes. According to estimates, 4th-year ESO students (equivalent to 10th grade) missed every fourth class on key subjects on average. This has sparked discontent among parents and teachers, who worry that the lack of clear exam guidelines will once again put children at a disadvantage.
Opposition Demands
Opposition representatives emphasize that unless the authorities announce the exam format before the start of the school year, schools and teachers will not be able to properly prepare students. As one opposition leader put it, “Delaying decisions only increases stress for students and teachers.” The opposition insists that the government must consider the lessons of previous years and inform graduates in advance about any upcoming changes.
Last year, the Ministry of Education announced that exams would go ahead in the usual format, but with some adjustments to ensure fairness. However, the details of these changes remained unclear for a long time, leading to confusion and frustration in schools across the country. As a result, many students were unprepared for the new requirements, and teachers complained about not having enough time to adapt their lesson plans.
Changes in Requirements
In response to criticism, authorities have already begun making adjustments to exam procedures. For example, for some subjects such as geography and natural sciences, mandatory fieldwork was canceled due to the impossibility of conducting it under social distancing conditions. This decision partly eased the burden on students, but raised questions about the quality of final knowledge assessments.
Teaching associations note that the gap in preparedness between different regions and schools has become even more pronounced. In their view, the only way to ensure equal conditions is to publish a list of exam topics in advance. This would allow teachers to focus on key areas of the curriculum and not waste time on secondary issues.
Government Position
The Ministry of Education has announced plans to hold exams in 2026 in person and to maintain professional and technical qualifications. Authorities have promised to introduce additional support measures for students soon to offset the impact of the pandemic. These include expanding individualized learning programs and increasing funding for educational projects.
Officials emphasize that more than 3 billion euros have already been invested in restoring the education system. There is a particular focus on developing tutoring programs and providing extra support to students who suffered most from remote learning. However, the specific details of the new exam regulations remain undisclosed, raising concerns among parents and teachers.
Public expectations
A tense anticipation prevails in schools across Spain. Teachers and parents are demanding transparency and clear guidelines from the authorities to avoid repeating last year’s mistakes. Many worry that without prompt decisions, confusion will arise again and children will face unequal conditions during exams.
For now, everyone can only wait for official statements. The question of exactly how exams will be organized in 2026 remains unanswered. Society hopes that this time, authorities will heed the lessons of the pandemic and ensure fair conditions for all graduates.
