Canary Islands Government Approves New Pilot Classrooms for 2025-2026

Initiative Overview

• The Canary Islands government has authorized the addition of new pilot classrooms for children aged 0-3 during the 2025-2026 school year.
• This initiative aims to increase access to free, high-quality early childhood education.
• Focus areas include regions with no existing childcare options or where demand exceeds supply, especially in vulnerable and peripheral communities.
• The program builds on previous pilot tests initiated in 2022 to evaluate the integration of early childhood education into public centers.

Policy Context and Goals

The move aligns with Spain's broader goal of expanding universal, inclusive, and equitable early childhood education, backed by national laws emphasizing progressive growth in these spaces.

• Authorities plan to recoup underused infrastructure, such as vacated or repurposed spaces, to host these new classrooms.
• This approach aims to maximize existing facilities.

Implementation and Monitoring

• Implementation will depend on completing necessary renovations and equipping the spaces.
• The start date will be flexible, based on each center’s readiness.
• The Education Ministry will monitor and assess the pilot's success to inform potential further expansion.

Objectives and Impact

• This effort reflects a push to guarantee all children in the region access to early education.
• The initiative supports children’s development and aims to reduce inequality from the earliest years.