Spain's Education System

The Spanish education system is somewhat simple. It is mandatory that students be enrolled in school between the ages of 6-16. After they have turn 16 they then have three options. They can start legally working, they can get vocational training, or they can continue their education in a baccalaureate program that is two years (grades 11 &12) in hopes of going to a university. However the entrance rate in to college is lower then most at 74%. The thing that makes Spain a little unique is that all students receive some vocational education and religion is offered but not required, keeping in check with the separation between church and sate.

The academic year goes from September to June and the school day has a two and a half hour break at lunch (following the Spanish tradition of a siesta). The time spent in a classroom is 5 hours 5 days a week. The teachers in Spain are paid $24,464.00 and after working for 15 years they pay is increased by $4,150 annually. Like the rest of Spain’s education system the graduation rate is weak, only 74%, however the literacy rate is decent at 97.9%. Spain is doing ok but other countries should look at Spain with cautious eyes when trying to boost their own education system.