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Spain’s business leaders call for a reform of the state's education system

The report, developed by the Ivie for AVE (Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs), identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the Spanish education system, offering proposals for improvement from the perspective of firms, families and public administration

The Spanish education system receives a fairly high level of funding that allows it to maintain a student/teacher ratio similar to that of other developed countries. In addition, it fully guarantees access to compulsory education and, albeit in a more limited way, to non-mandatory education. Approximately 9.5 million students are currently enrolled in the education system, 9.8% more than at the turn of this century.

However, according to a new study presented by AVE (Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs), and undertaken by Ivie researchers, Lorenzo Serrano and José Ramós, and Ivie technicians, Ángel Soler and Héctor García, education in Spain has important weaknesses in aspects such as the high proportion of grade repeaters at the age of 15 (31% vs 12% on average for OECD countries) and early school dropouts (17.9% vs 10.6% for the EU). In addition, students have poorer language and digital skills in comparison with their peers in other developed countries.

The study includes the results of a survey of business people in Spain aimed at obtaining their opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the Spanish education system, and on possible mismatches between skills attained in school and those demanded by the labor market. Regarding whether the Spanish education system meets their labor needs, only 5.7% of the surveyed firms agree, 53.5% consider that it has certain limitations, and 40.8% disagree.

According to the survey, the most important employability skills are to be hard-working, resilient, and self-motivated, and, obtaining the highest score (8.8 out 10), to be ethical. Other important skills highlighted were to have initiative, to be capable of working in a team, and to be quality focused.

However, it is precisely in the development of these cross-disciplinary skills where, according to the survey, the Spanish education system is failing.

The study also analyzes labor market digitization, as it is estimated that automation will affect more than half of all jobs in Spain in 20 years’ time. In fact, 72% of the firms surveyed consider that the main challenge to be faced by the Spanish education system in the next ten years will be to prepare for the new jobs that will be created. The second main challenge (69.4% of firms) is digitization, which will transform teaching and will require teachers to develop new skills.

In addition to promoting cross-disciplinary skills and improving digital skills, employers believe that the education system should attach greater importance to dual vocational training programs and promote more flexible training from an earlier age. Business leaders also call for postgraduate studies that are more relevant to professional job practices.

The report also offers proposals for improvement and recommendations addressed to the education system, public administrations, and families.