The report from the OECD indicates that Spanish teachers give more class hours compared to their European colleagues, especially in primary education where they dedicate 20% more time to direct teaching than the EU average. They also have a higher average number of students per classroom, particularly in secondary education, with 24 students in public schools and 26 in private schools, compared to 21 and 20 respectively in the EU. However, salaries in Spain are higher than the European average at the beginning of a teacher’s career and at the maximum salary level they can reach, although it takes longer for Spanish teachers to reach the maximum salary.
Spain has a higher percentage of 18-24 year olds who are not in education or employment, known as “nini’s”, compared to the EU average. Despite a slight improvement, it remains higher than the EU average. Spain’s investment in education, as a percentage of GDP, has increased over the years and is now on par with the EU average. The report also highlights the efforts made by the Spanish government to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on education, such as increasing places in early childhood education and vocational training.
Spanish teachers not only spend more time in the classroom than their European counterparts but also dedicate additional time to tasks such as lesson preparation, grading, and communication with families. This results in a total working hours for Spanish teachers in secondary education, well above the EU average. The student-to-teacher ratio in Spain is lower in primary and secondary education compared to the EU, due to the higher number of teaching hours in the Spanish curriculum.
The report also compares the salaries of teachers in Spain with those in the EU, showing that Spanish teachers earn more at the beginning of their careers and at the maximum salary level. However, it takes longer for Spanish teachers to reach the maximum salary compared to the EU average. In terms of gender pay gap, Spain has the lowest gap among all countries analyzed, with women earning 91% of the salary of men with similar qualifications. The report also highlights the importance of tertiary education in Spain, with higher employment rates and earnings compared to those with lower qualifications.
Over the past decade, the cost of university tuition in Spain has decreased in real terms, making higher education more accessible. The report also notes the increase in students receiving scholarships in Spain. Overall, the report provides a detailed overview of the education system in Spain, highlighting areas of improvement and achievements in comparison to other European countries. Despite some challenges, such as high nini rates and student repetition, Spain has made significant progress in areas such as gender pay equality and access to tertiary education.
