Education System in Spain I.

Description of Education System

State education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (Ministerio de Educacin, Cultura y Deporte), although the ! autonomous regions ha"e some responsibility for their o#n education system (including higher education). $he %a# on the &uality of Education (%ey 'rg(nica de Calidad de la Educacin ) %'CE) co"ers the main points of the education la# in Spain #hich are as follo#s* + school is compulsory and free of charge for all children from age si, to age si,teen + the system includes le"els of education adapted to suit students #ith special needs + all students recei"e basic "ocational training in secondary education + religious instruction is a"ailable but optional + special systems e,ist for artistic education and language learning $he la# also determines that education authorities must promote the integration of foreign pupils and de"elop specific programs in mainstream schools for those that do not ha"e a good grasp of the Spanish language. -.ridge- classes pro"ide facilities for students to study Spanish before /oining an ordinary class, ho#e"er all teaching in mainstream schools is deli"ered in Spanish. In 00!, the number of people aged 10 and under #as 2.314.544 (546 of the population) and there #ere 5.757.444 young people of compulsory education age. 8ccording to the Spanish Constitution, Castellano is the official language of Spain. $herefore, all Spanish citi9ens must :no# the language and ha"e the right to use it. $ogether #ith Castellano, there are other official languages in their corresponding 8utonomous Communities. $hese co)official languages are Catal(n, ;allego, <alenciano and Eus:era. In those Communities #here there is a co)official language, both this and Castellano are considered compulsory teaching languages in all le"els of education e,cept uni"ersity. $he use of the 8utonomous Community language as a teaching language "aries in the different Communities, depending on ho# #idespread that language is and on the linguistic policies each Community is implementing. 8. State and =ri"ate Schools

Spain has pri"ately)o#ned and state schools. Some of the pri"ate schools are funded by the state (concertados). >ees in these schools are generally lo#er than in other pri"ate schools. State school education is free, although in some autonomous regions boo:s and materials must be paid for. 'nce a child enters primary school (primaria), "ouchers (bonos) may be a"ailable to help pay for boo:s.

.elo# is a table #ith English and Spanish translation of the le"els and ages of schooling for children. Spanish English ;uarderia ?ursery Educacion Infantil =re)School Education Educacion =rimaria =rimary Education ES' Compulsory Secondary Education 8ge 1) 7 .achillerato =ost) Compulsory Secondary Education 8ge 7) 3

8ges

8ges 4)@

8ge @) 7

8ge 7) 1

..

8dministrati"e Control and E,tend of =ublic)Sector >unded Education

In 00!, !1.@16 of students attended public)sector schools #hile 1!.736 attended pri"ate institutions. $here are t#o :inds of compulsory)le"el establishments that are not in the public sector* centros concertados, #hich are financed by public funds and account for appro,imately 046 of all pri"ate schools, and centros no concertados #hich are totally pri"ate. $he central go"ernment retains responsibility for the general regulation of the system, but since 0!3, certain responsibilities are been de"ol"ed to the ! regional go"ernments (8utonomous Communities), #hich currently e,ercise full po#ers o"er education. Each school has a council, comprising representati"es of the teachers and the other staff, parents and students, #hose responsibilities include all aspects of daily school life, for e,ample, appro"al of the annual programme and of important sanctions concerning students. Each education authority is responsible for the organi9ation and functioning of its o#n inspection ser"ice. $he state senior inspection ser"ice monitors the structure and organi9ation of education and a technical inspection ser"ice operates in each of the 8utonomous Communities. II. =re)=rimary Education

Ap to the age of 7, children can attend escuelas de Educacin Infantil (pre)primary schools), #hich are di"ided into t#o stages of three years each. >irst stage (4)@ years) old) is o"erseen by %ocal 8dministration or pri"ate schools and the second (@)7 years) old) by the Education Department (public schools or pri"ate schools). $here are no tuition fees in the second stage, but parents may be e,pected to contribute to the costs of te,tboo:s, catering or transport, depending on their income. ?o#adays, almost all children from three to si, are in school. Compulsory >ull)$ime Education 8. =hases

Educacin =rimaria (=rimary Education) Educacin Secundaria 'bligatoria (ES', or lo#er Secondary Education)

7) 1 years of age 1) 7 years of age

Education is compulsory from the age of 7 to 7, and is di"ided into t#o educational le"els made up of fi"e stages, each lasting t#o years B the first three for =rimary Education, and the other t#o for lo#er secondary. .. 8dmissions Criteria

$o enter primary education, children must be 7 years)old. Certain admissions criteria (family income, catchment area, and siblings at schools) apply #hen a school is o"er)subscribed. Students transfer automatically from primary to lo#er secondary le"el. Compulsory education in publicly funded schools is free of charge. C. %ength of the School Day C Dee: C Eear

$he school year comprises 34 days at primary le"el and !2 days at secondary le"el, bet#een mid)September and late Fune. Schools open fi"e days a #ee: #ith 12 lessons at primary le"el and @4 lessons at secondary le"el per #ee:. 8 lesson lasts 74 minutes at primary level and 55 at secondary. The minimum number of annual teaching hours is 3 4 at primary le"el and 303 at lo#er secondary le"el. D. Class Si9e C Student ;rouping

$he ma,imum class si9e is 12 at primary le"el and @4 at secondary le"el. Students are grouped according to age. Mi,ed age groups e,ist in rural area #here classes are "ery small. =rimary classes ha"e one teacher for all sub/ects, e,cept music, physical education and foreign languagesG secondary students ha"e separate sub/ect teachers. E. Curricular Control and Content

$he minimum core curriculum is determined at State le"el. $he 8utonomous Communities establish their o#n curriculum based on the State minimum core curriculum and schools de"elop and adapt the curriculum to their o#n conte,t. Compulsory studies at primary le"el include :no#ledge of the en"ironment, art education, physical education, Spanish language and literature, the official language and literature of the corresponding 8utonomous Community, a foreign language and mathematics. $he sub/ect of religion is compulsory offered by the establishment but is "oluntary for the pupils. $he lo#er secondary core curriculum co"ers Spanish language and literature, the official language and literature of the respecti"e 8utonomous Communities, a foreign language, mathematics, physical education, natural sciences, plastic and "isual education, social studies, geography and history, technology and music. $he sub/ect of religion is compulsory offered by the establishments but is "oluntary for the pupils.

Dhile in primary education, methodology is global and interdisciplinary and it must be adapted to each pupilHs needs as it is in lo#er secondary education. In lo#er secondary education, methodology must also foster their ability to learn in their o#n as #ell as to #or: in team. Concerning te,tboo:s, there is no need for appro"al from any educational authority. E"ery sub/ect area department is responsible for the choice of its te,tboo:s. >. 8ssessment, =rogression and &ualifications

$here is no national or regional system of testing. $he minimum core curriculum includes basic guidelines for assessment, #hich is an integral part of the curriculum and must be global and continuous. Dhile in primary school, the form teacher is responsible for decisions on promotion, in lo#er secondary, all the pupilHs teachers ha"e to decide on promotion collecti"ely. =romotion bet#een primary school education stages depends on students meeting curricular ob/ecti"esG students can repeat a year if necessary. In the first stage or in each of the t#o academic years of the second stage of lo#er secondary education, students may stay one more year if they do not attain the ob/ecti"es although, in principle, they may only repeat one year throughout the entire stage. 'n completion of compulsory schooling, students recei"e the certificate of secondary education (;raduado en Educacin Secundaria), #hich grants access to general upper secondary education (.achillerato) or intermediate le"el specific "ocational training (>ormacin =rofesional EspecIfica de ;rado Medio).

III. 8.

Apper Secondary and =ost)Secondary Education $ypes of Education

.achillerato (;eneral Apper Secondary Education) >ormacin =rofesional EspecIfica de ;rado Medio (Intermediate)le"el Specific <ocational $raining)

8ge 7) 3 8ge 7) 3 (usually one and a half years)

$hese t#o types of post)compulsory education may be pro"ided separately or in the same establishment. .. 8dmissions Criteria

Students must hold a ;raduado en Educacin Secundaria (certificate of secondary education) to access either of the t#o types of education mentioned abo"e. $here are no tuition fees in publicly funded establishments but parents may be reJuired to pay for materials, transport or meals, depending on their le"el of income. =arents ha"e freedom of choice. C. Curricular Control and Content

$he .achillerato minimum core curriculum is determined at national le"el, but the 8utonomous Communities educational authorities and the schools de"elop and adapt the curriculum to their o#n conte,t. $here are four :inds of .achillerato* arts, natural science and health, humanities and social studies and technology. Spanish language and literature, official language and literature of the corresponding 8utonomous Communities, history, philosophy, a foreign language and physical education are compulsory sub/ects for all pupils. $eachers are to follo# the teaching principles underlying the core curriculum and to use the specific teaching methods that are mostly appropriate for the sub/ect areas they co"er. $he basic national guidelines of "ocational training are laid do#n by the 8utonomous Communities education authorities and the curriculum includes theoretical and practical training organi9ed on a modular basis, #hile core sub/ects "ary according to the module. $eaching methods in specific "ocational training in general should afford pupils a coordinated "ie# of the producti"e processes in #hich they are to participate. $hey should also encourage team#or: and the ability of pupils to learn on their o#n. D. 8ssessment, =rogression and &ualifications

.achillerato students are sub/ect to continuous assessment throughout the course. $hose #ho fail more than t#o sub/ects in the first year, or more than three sub/ects in the second year, must repeat the year. Successful students recei"e the .achiller diploma. Continuous assessment also applies to the "ocational course and successful students recei"e the $Kcnico certificate. I<. 8. Ligher Education $ypes of Institution

Ligher education includes uni"ersity, ad"anced)le"el art education (EnseMan9as 8rtIsticas de grado superior), ad"anced)le"el specific "ocational training (>ormacin =rofesional EspecIfica de grado superior), and other "ery specific speciali9ed institutions. Ani"ersity)le"el education is offered in >acultades Ani"ersitarias (uni"ersity faculties), and Escuelas Ani"ersitarias (uni"ersity centres for first)stage studies). Conser"atorios Superiores (high music academies) and Escuelas Superiores (higher schools) are the public institutions that deli"er ad"anced)le"el artistic education.

$he establishments teaching >ormacin =rofesional EspecIfica de grado superior (ad"anced)le"el specific "ocational training) are the same as the ones gi"ing intermediate le"el training. $here are courses pro"ided at non)uni"ersity institutions, #hich are comparable in content and le"el to uni"ersity courses. .. 8ccess

$here t#o #ays of accessing ad"anced)le"el specific "ocational training* direct access #ith the .achiller certificate, and access through a test. Entry to all other courses reJuires the .achiller diploma as a minimum. 8ccess to t#o)stage uni"ersity studies also reJuires a pass in the uni"ersity entrance e,amination (=8A). $his Ani"ersity entrance e,am, #hich is regulated by the Ministry of Education and administered by the 8utonomous Communities, is organi9ed and planned /ointly by the uni"ersities and .achillerato teachers. 8d"anced)le"el art students must also pass a specific e,am. C. &ualifications

Diplomado, technical architect and technical engineer degrees are earned after completing one)cycle uni"ersity studies (three years) and %icenciado, architect and engineer degrees after t#o)cycles studies (t#o to three e,tra years). Doctorates are a#arded to students #ho pass the third)cycle courses and successfully defend their theses (minimum t#o years). Different certificates are a#arded to students after completing the "arious specialities of arts education. 8fter completing ad"anced)le"el music and dance studies, and dramatic arts, students are a#arded a higher certificate, eJui"alent to a uni"ersity %icenciado degree. Students finishing ad"anced)le"el plastic arts and design earn a $ecnico Superior certificateG and after completing arts conser"ation and restoration courses, students obtain a certificate eJui"alent to a uni"ersity Diplomado. Students successfully completing ad"anced)le"el specific "ocational training are a#arded the $Kcnico Superior certificate. Students in non) uni"ersity higher education courses prepare for Jualifications that are eJui"alent to those of %icenciado or Diplomado. <. Special ?eeds

Necent legislation has established the principle of the integration of children #ith special educational needs into mainstream schooling. Special schools or units still e,ist for those #hose needs cannot be met in mainstream education. In 00!C03, fe#er than 4.56 of all primary and secondary students attended separate schools. <I. $eachers

=re)primary and primary teachers must ha"e a Maestro teaching diploma, gained after three years at a uni"ersity)le"el teacher training college. Secondary school teachers must ha"e a %icenciado, or architecture or engineering degree, gained after four to si, yearsH study plus a teaching course lasting on a"erage @44 hours. =rimary school teachers are trained to teach all sub/ects e,cept music, physical education and foreign languages, for #hich specialist teachers are employed. =rimary teachers are generalists and secondary teachers are specialists in one sub/ect. Ani"ersity professors must hold a doctorateG other types of uni"ersity teachers are not reJuired to ha"e it, although they must ha"e a %icenciado, or architecture or engineering degree. In public establishments teachers are usually ci"il ser"ants.