European Commission highlights "significant" decrease in number of people leaving Spanish education and training system early

The report applauds the Spanish policies that have reduced the education and training drop-out rate "significantly", highlighting Spain's progress over the last eight years to lower this rate to 19% in 2016 (it currently stands at 18.2%). "Spain is close to achieving its Europe 2020 target of 15%", says the report.

According to the 2017 Monitor Report, the Government of Spain is making a concerted effort in this regard, citing among the measures most recently put in place a Regional Cooperation Programme with a provision of 13.5 million euros aimed at supporting specific learning aid measures.

"This programme enables regions to receive funding for the application of measures aimed at preventing people from leaving school early, guidance and supervision measures, and drawing up plans for those young people who do indeed drop out of the school system".

The study highlights that the programme also funds measures aimed at students with great potential. "As part of the plan, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport has created a series of online partnership platforms on which regional authorities can share experiences and learn from one another", it states.

Good work on preventing classroom violence

The 2017 Monitor Report describes the efforts being made by the Government of Spain to combat classroom bullying as "highly significant".

It underlines "the effort" to foster citizenship values in schools and highlights the Regional Cooperation Programme that was launched in October 2015 by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the regional governments. "This plan has a provision of 1.5 million euros and is aimed at promoting wellbeing and avoiding bullying and violence in schools", it states.

Furthermore, the European Commission echoes the Strategic School Harmony Plan presented by the ministerial department "that, among other things, proposes: a 24/7 telephone hotline and a specific smartphone app; guides and leaflets for victims, parents and teachers; training courses for teachers; and a network of bullying-free schools for the exchange of experiences and resources".

Non official translation