Investment in education in Spain has increased over the last decade. In 2021, the country spent 4.9% of its GDP on education, up from 3.9% in 2005. The percentage of students receiving public financial support has increased, benefiting 40% of students in the 2022/2023 academic year.compared to 33% in 2012/2013.
Spending per student in Spain is below the OECD and EU25 average. In 2021, Spain allocated $12,426 per student, while the OECD average was $14,209 and the EU25 average was $13,787.according to the report OECD Education at a Glance.
Although investment per student in Spain is lower than these averages, it is not only a matter of increasing spending, but also of allocating resources more strategically to improve the quality of education. A clear example is the case of USAthat invests more than $150,000 per student between 6 and 15 years old42% more than Spain, but whose results in mathematics are not considerably higher. On the other hand, Japanthat Iinvests 30% less than the United Statesachieves higher academic results in this subject.
Ismael Sanz Labrador, researcher at Funcashighlights that it is in higher education (including university and higher vocational training) that Spain is considered to be the most behind. Countries such as Luxembourg, Denmark or the United States far exceed Spanish investment levels.
Total education expenditure recorded a average annual increase of 2.6%while the number of students increased by 0.8% over the same period, which translates into a 1.8% increase in expenditure per student. At the OECD level, the figures are similar, with an average growth of 2.1% in total expenditure and virtually no increase in the number of students (0.2%).
This moderate increase in the number of students, accompanied by an increase in total expenditure, has allowed Spain to allocate more resources per student. This growth is, however, more modest than in Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, Hungary or Poland, where a notable reduction in the number of students has allowed a greater concentration of resources per student, potentially improving the quality of education.
And for example, A 10% increase in education spending can increase test scores by 0.069 standard deviations, provided that resources are managed efficiently.. In contrast, the PISA report suggests that once a threshold of investment per student is exceeded, further increases do not guarantee an improvement in academic performance, thus highlighting the importance of efficiency in the allocation of resources.
Families face higher expenses
In addition, Spanish families pay almost double the cost of primary education compared to the OECD average. The report also highlights that the decentralisation of the Spanish education system has generated regional inequalities in the distribution of resources. More than 80% of funding comes from the autonomous communities, while the central government provides only 11% in non-university education and 18% in higher education. This distribution has generated significant disparities between regions, such as the difference in investment per student between Euskadi and the Community of Madrid.
Regarding early childhood education, Spanish families cover 12% of expenditure, a figure slightly lower than the OECD average but higher than the EU average. This percentage is low compared to countries such as Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States, but significantly higher than in France and Sweden, where family expenditure is below 6%.
