Catalonia’s education system faces persistent setbacks. Graduation rates have fallen, and funding remains below legal targets. Experts warn that growing social inequality is at the heart of the crisis.
Catalonia’s education system is facing a critical setback, with recent data showing a marked decline in student performance and graduation rates. According to the latest Anuario de la Educación en Cataluña from Fundación equitat.org, the region’s academic results remain stagnant, and experts point to deepening social inequality as the main obstacle to improvement. Despite some increases in education budgets, the number of students with special needs has surged, outpacing available resources and leaving many schools struggling to cope.
The report highlights a significant drop in the percentage of students graduating from compulsory secondary education (ESO), which has fallen from 93% to 87% over five years. This decline is mirrored in both regional diagnostic tests and international assessments such as PISA, PIRLS, and TIMSS, where Catalonia continues to underperform. The gap between students from vulnerable backgrounds and those from more affluent families is now so wide that it equates to a three-year difference in academic achievement, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
One of the most pressing issues identified is the persistence of child poverty. Currently, one in three students in Catalonia requires additional educational support due to socioeconomic factors, and 40% of pupils are enrolled in segregated schools. While the Generalitat has increased education spending by 33% since the 2019-20 academic year, reaching €7.9 billion last year, the number of students with special needs has soared by 130% in the same period. This mismatch has left many schools without adequate staff or resources to address the growing complexity of their student populations.
Investment in education as a share of GDP remains well below the 6% target set by Catalan law, standing at just 3.8% when universities are included, and 3.2% without them. The expansion of welcome classrooms for newly arrived foreign students has not kept pace with demand, with class sizes rising from 26 to 28 students over seven years, despite the number of such classrooms doubling. In secondary education, there is now just one social educator for every 888 vulnerable students, and only half of eligible students in post-compulsory secondary education receive scholarships.
To address these challenges, Fundación equitat.org has put forward 17 proposals, most of which focus on directing more resources to schools with the highest levels of complexity. These include doubling the number of additional teachers in such schools, providing administrative support, and increasing oversight. The foundation also calls for a shift from the current linear funding model to one that allocates resources based on each school’s specific needs. A pilot program in two cities over four years is suggested, which would require hiring 2,175 new teachers at a cost of €115 million.
Other recommendations include expanding financial support for vulnerable students to cover educational staff and extracurricular activities, with estimated costs of €75 million and €70 million respectively. The report also advocates for extending support programs like PMOE-PROA+ and increasing vocational training places by 8,000. Additional measures target inclusive education, such as assigning two social educators and two social integrators to each high-complexity school, and expanding the SIEI plus service for students with disabilities from 126 to 740 schools, which would require €111 million.
These findings come at a time when education and social policy are under increased scrutiny across Spain. The debate over resource allocation and educational outcomes is not limited to Catalonia; similar challenges have been reported in other regions. For example, recent national coverage has focused on how major events and crises, such as the Ecuador-Germany World Cup match and the Venezuela earthquakes, have shifted public attention and government priorities, as seen in recent media reports on shifting national focus. This broader context highlights the ongoing struggle to balance immediate social needs with long-term investment in education.
For context, Catalonia’s education system serves over 1.5 million students across public and semi-private schools. The region’s legal framework mandates a minimum investment in education, but actual spending has consistently fallen short. The persistent gap between policy and practice has fueled debate among educators, policymakers, and families. As the number of students requiring additional support continues to rise, the pressure on the system is expected to intensify unless substantial reforms and targeted funding are implemented. The Anuario de la Educación en Cataluña serves as a stark reminder that without addressing the root causes of inequality, academic outcomes are unlikely to improve.
