Canary Islands Enacts New Student-to-Teacher Ratio Regulations

Overview

The Canary Islands government has enacted a new regulation to revise the student-to-teacher ratios for private, concerted schools across various education levels amid changing socio-economic circumstances. This new decree aims to better reflect the declining birth rate and shrinking student populations, especially in early childhood and primary education, by adjusting maximum and minimum class sizes.

Key Changes

• In early childhood and primary levels:
  • The minimum ratio is now set at 12 students per class.
  • The maximum is capped at 25 students.
• In secondary schools:
  • Classes will host between 15 and 30 students.
• The regulation also applies to:
  • Special education
  • Vocational training
• Private schools will adhere to ratios comparable to public schools unless these are more favorable, helping to keep private education financially viable without expanding their number of units.

Objectives

The regulation becomes effective immediately after publication, with the aim of stabilizing the school network and adapting to demographic shifts, which have led to fewer students and closures of some private units.

Monitoring and Future Plans

Educational authorities will continue to monitor these ratios annually, aiming for a balanced, equitable system that safeguards students' access to quality education despite ongoing population declines.