Spanish Education System

The current Spanish education system is facing a major overhaul on the national and European level. These changes are going to require a lot of effort in order to adapt to the new system.

Until now, the education system has consisted of various levels:  Preschool (Etapa Infantil), Primary and Secondary school (Primaria y Secundaria ), Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and Baccalaureate( Bachiller). After Baccalaureate, there is Vocational Training (Formación Professional), or Associate degree or University degree. Starting in 2010, this system will be changed according to the following:

Basic Obligatory Education and Higher Education which includes university training:

The Basic Obligatory Education from the first year until 16 years old:

• Pre-school will be comprised of two cycles: The First Cycle (0-3 years) and the Second Cycle (3-6 years).
• Primary Education will be subdivided in 3 cycles of two years each. The First Cycle (6-8 years), The Second Cycle (8-10 years) and The Third Cycle (10-12 years).
• The Compulsory Secondary Education, which includes the (ESO) Compulsory Secondary Education, is from age 12 until 16. The Certificate of Secondary Education is awarded upon passing the ESO stage. With this certificate, students can begin to study the Middle-Level cycles (mid-level Vocational Training and mid- level Sports Training). In addition, the Secondary Education Certificate permits students to enter the labor market, continue on to Superior-Level Vocational Training, or they may start University studies.

This is one option, but it is also possible for students to continue until the end of the Cycle, which is the Post-compulsory Secondary Education from age 16 until 18. In this case, students may start studying for Baccalaureate and/or Middle-level Vocational Training in order to obtain a diploma.  Baccalaureate students may choose from Bachelor of Arts, Science and Technology, or Humanities.

With this diploma, it is possible to continue into the Higher Education Cycle in order to enroll in University studies or they made enroll in a Superior Grade Formative Course such as Fine Arts, Vocational Training, Applied Art and Design, or Sports Education.  If a Superior Grade Formation Course is chosen, it is possible to enter the University later. If the student goes directly into University studies, they would already be entering into the new University Grade degree system, Master’s and Doctorate studies.

In order to fulfill the requirements for University studies, it is necessary to pass the University entrance exam (Prueba de Selectividad) which will also be updated next year.  Starting in 2010, they will be offering Grade degrees which are designed to unify the new European Educational system.  The new Grade degree system will last 4 years, with the possibility of studying a master’s degree of one or two years and then, a doctorate.

The previous system of degree certificates will have to be adapted to the new Grade system. For example, at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, what used to be offered as ¨degrees¨ in Physics, Biochemistry, and Industrial Engineering will soon be ¨grades¨ in Physics, Biochemistry…etc. This is the basis of how the current courses will be adapted to the new system. The people that already have a degree from the system before 2010 will hold the equivalent of their degree in the new system.

However, those students that are now in the middle of their studies will have to start gradually adapting their courses to coincide with the new Grade system. The courses that they have already passed and that are not in the new system will have to be recognized so that they are considered accepted credits in the new system.  For example, if a Chemistry Degree required a Chemical Equilibrium core class that was worth 5 credits in the old system, 2 more subjects must be passed to obtain the credits in the new system. Therefore, a Chemical Bonding class which is worth 3 credits and Additional Aspects of Chemical Bond Theories that is worth 3 credits must be passed in order to obtain the equivalence of these three classes for the new General Chemistry Degree which requires 11 credits.  Also it is possible that some subjects that were previously passed don’t have an equivalence of any Grade, like Vegetal Biochemistry for example.

In order to incorporate the new system and to avoid problems, Spanish Universities depend on adaptation tables that are found in the faculty offices. The students that are enrolling for the first time this year will directly begin with the Grade system and won’t have to make any adjustments.

They are also taking great steps to renovate University campuses, offering many more services in order to improve the quality of living for the students, professors, etc. They will also be establishing bidirectional ties with companies and the job market in order to adapt the curriculum to real-world needs.

Without a doubt, the Spanish University system must be greatly improved and this requires a strong financial backing. The Education Minister is granting various aids in order to achieve these tasks.

Published on 2009-09-22

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