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Since the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939, the transformation of Spain’s education system had insignificant effects on the graduation rate of Spanish Students. During this period, the private sector dominated schooling, with the government having a subsidiary role. A majority of the Spanish population could hardly afford tuition fees as the war had left them without a source of income. As a consequence, students’ socioeconomic status determined their educational attainment. So, does this historical disproportion have an impact on modern schooling in Spain?

 

Throughout Europe and globally, the cost of education has increased significantly. One of the probable reasons for such a trend concerns colleges’ initiatives to achieve world-class status in infrastructure, human resources, and global ranking, and Spain isn’t left behind. For that reason, it would be costly for an undergraduate or postgraduate student to hire a personal tutor for coaching and mentoring, especially if he or she wants to excel in STEM subjects. However, thanks to technological advancements in every field, including education, learners can get similar affordable help from an essay writing service that offers all academic solutions ranging from customised samples to reading materials. Such innovation can reverse the high dropout rate as women and men can find part-time jobs to supplement their budgets.

 

 

 

Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds dropout of school as attaining academic qualifications doesn’t guarantee them a source of income in the future. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spain leads in the unemployment rate among young people. Recent reports indicate that the country recorded the lowest figure (2.7 million) of individuals without employment in December 2023. In spite of the 27,375 improvement from November 2023, many youths would be reluctant to attain high academic qualifications in this country as they will likely not get the reward for their hard work.

 

Even with sunny climates in most cities in Spain, many Spaniards prefer pursuing their studies in other countries because of higher job opportunities compared to their country. For instance, in Extremadura and Andalusia, unemployment rates are more than 35%, and in the Basque Country and Catalonia, it is approximately 20%. For that reason, you’ll find that a third of young Spaniards applying for jobs within their country’s boundaries are not optimistic about getting one. Individuals from low socioeconomic status would view studying without getting a job as a waste of money and time. Such a perception influences overall educational attainment in Spain.

 

 

Why do you think government- and private-funded scholarships might not achieve 100% transition from one educational level to another? As opposed to elementary and high school, where students learn different subjects, many undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral studies require specialisation. For example, you won’t find a medical or nursing student in an engineering or architectural class. In most cases, private and government entities announce limited scholarships annually. Such findings might not meet the needs of every student from low socioeconomic status in Spain. With their high predisposition to social exclusion and poverty in the past two decades because of lower wages and the rising cost of living, young Spanish aged 15 to 29 cannot afford to enrol in college under a self-sponsored program. Even if they join schools, these learners cannot pursue some diplomas or degrees due to inadequate infrastructure and limited resources.

 

 

When you walk in the streets of Spain and ask random people about their children’s careers, what notable response would you likely get? You’ll realise that if they’re doctors or nurses, the chance of their kids being in the same profession is high. For example, it would be unlikely for a child to be an artist if the mother or father is a medical professor. Parents with high socioeconomic status in Spain boost on adequate resources and connections, for example, hiring a private tutor for their kids, connecting them to precious institutions for internships, and paying for expensive education. By contrast, limited financial resources and time constraints related to working extra hours limit the potential of a person from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to mentor or offer educational support to their children.

 

 

Even with financial support, you must attain a specific GPA to pursue certain undergraduate or postgraduate programs. For example, in Spain, high school performance, regardless of one’s vocation care and communication cues, determines selection into medical school. Children from high socioeconomic status have the upper hand because of access to extracurricular activities that contribute to their cognitive development and, consequently, academic performance. However, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds cannot enjoy these amenities as they will accompany their parents in low-paying jobs to raise enough money.

 

Although Spain contains world-class learning institutions at different educational levels, it must address socioeconomic disparity to achieve equity in attaining academic qualifications. For example, many students won’t continue their studies up to the master’s and PhD levels unless they’re sure of employment. What’s more, reducing the gap between economically disadvantaged and affluent people will give equal opportunity to every child. The Spanish government can capitalise on technological advancements to ensure equity in accessing learning materials. In retrospect, every Spaniard should support educational attainment in spite of a person’s socioeconomic status to reduce poverty and societal issues.

 

Image: Vasily Koloda via unsplash.com