Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
3h ago

Spain’s Schools Shrink as One in Eight Pupils Is Foreign

Official data confirm a decade slide in ages 3 to 5, with a sharper impact on public infant schooling.

Asturias, la comunidad autónoma que más porcentaje de alumnos de Infantil perdió en la última década
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Enrollment in the second cycle of Early Childhood Education fell by 317,000 pupils over a decade (−22.7%), including a drop of more than 28,000 in the last year (about −2.7%).
  • Public centers absorbed a larger share of the decline in infant education, reducing the public share to 67.0% in 2024–25 and to 66.8% across general education, the lowest since 1991–92.
  • Foreign students now total 1,124,767, representing 13% of non‑university enrollment and rising 4.5% year over year, led by Morocco in absolute numbers and strong increases from Colombia, Venezuela and Peru.
  • Total non‑university enrollment stands at 8,317,548 (−14,726; −0.2%), and for the first time the school population decreased across all compulsory stages, including primary (−1.7%) and ESO (−0.6%).
  • Provision grew for ages 0–2 with 3,664 more pupils and record 49.2% coverage, and post‑compulsory stages expanded with 12,582 more Bachillerato students and 53,121 more in Vocational Training, as teacher headcount rose 1.1% to 792,378.