In a stark contrast to the rising enrollments in secondary education and vocational training, Primary Education in the Basque Country has faced a significant downturn, losing approximately 10,000 students over the past five years due to a notable decline in birth rates. According to a recent report from Eustat, the Basque Institute of Statistics, enrollments in Primary Education for the 2023-2024 school year registered 2,612 fewer students than the previous year, marking a 2.1% reduction.
This consistent drop in Primary enrollments, now ongoing for five consecutive years, underscores the challenges that the education system faces as it adjusts to demographic changes. In contrast, Secondary Education and Vocational Training have recorded their highest enrollment figures in two decades, with over 90,000 students enrolled in Secondary Education alone.
The positive trend in Vocational Training ( Formación Profesional), which saw enrollments rise by 1,400 to a total of 41,447 students, reflects a growing interest in practical and skill-based education. Notably, the most in-demand programs within Vocational Training include Mechanical Manufacturing, Electricity and Electronics, and Computer Science and Communications, attracting students keen on entering the workforce with relevant skills.
One driving force behind the changes in early childhood education has been the introduction of free public nurseries for children aged 0-3 years. For the academic year 2023-2024, enrollments for children aged 0 and 1 surged by 13%, significantly impacting the public school system as it recorded a 57% increase in enrollments in this age group, totaling 1,746 students. This can be directly attributed to the free education policy which aims to alleviate childcare costs for families.
Despite the overall decrease in Primary education enrollments, the interest in Infant Education (for ages 0-6) is notable. Although General Infant Education saw a slight decline of 1% overall, the spike in enrollments for the youngest age groups indicates a shift in priorities, possibly influenced by the new financing policies that make early education more affordable for families.
Meanwhile, in the realm of Bachillerato (Baccalaureate), the newly implemented General modality designed for broader educational paths has not gained much traction, with only 1.4% of students opting for this flexible option. Instead, the Science and Technology track remains the most popular, chosen by 56.3% of students, while Humanities and Social Sciences attracted 38.3% of students.
Gender differences in educational choices are also noteworthy. For instance, 62% of boys opted for the Science and Technology track, compared to 51% of girls, highlighting a trend in subject choices that may reflect larger cultural influences. Meanwhile, the enrollment in the Arts track remains quite low across both genders, with male students particularly scarce.
With regard to additional services, the report highlighted that approximately three out of four Primary students utilized the school cafeteria, which translates to over 178,000 children. This reflects a significant reliance on school systems for meals, particularly in the provinces of Bizkaia, where 56% of students participated in the cafeteria program, followed by Gipuzkoa (41%) and Álava (34%).
On the other hand, the demand for school meals in Vocational Training settings appeared negligible, pointing to different educational environments catering to various demographic needs and expectations.
In summary, while the Basque education system grapples with declining numbers in Primary Education, secondary educational pathways, particularly in Vocational Training, have seen impressive gains. The changes reflect broader demographic trends alongside active government efforts to promote early education, presenting a dynamic landscape in which the educational institutions will have to navigate the complexities of policy and social sentiment moving forward.
