Andalusia begins school year with record drop in student enrollment

The 2026-2027 school year has commenced in Andalusia, marked by a significant demographic shift. Regional President Juanma Moreno reported a record decline in student enrollment, with 30,300 fewer students than the previous year and a total reduction of 150,000 students since 2019 due to low birth rates.

To address these changes, the regional government is implementing new educational strategies, including a pilot program to reduce classroom ratios from 25 to 22 students in early childhood education to provide more personalized attention. Despite the drop in students, the teaching workforce has increased, with 109,000 educators currently employed.

The start of the term has faced logistical challenges. A technical error in the Sipri system disrupted the assignment of thousands of interim teachers, though the regional government stated that 97% of staff remained in their assigned positions after a corrective resolution. Additionally, some local schools, such as CEIP Rodríguez Marín in Osuna, are facing protests from families demanding more classrooms to prevent high student-to-teacher ratios.

In the higher education sector, Andalusian public universities are preparing for the new academic year by introducing 36 new degree and master's titles while navigating ongoing discussions regarding university funding.