Canary Islands student enrollment drops by 5% over three years

The Canary Islands are experiencing a significant decline in student enrollment across primary and secondary education. Data shows that between the 2023/2024 and 2026/2027 academic years, the number of students in Infant, Primary, and Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) fell from 172,615 to 163,558, representing a total decrease of approximately 5.2% or 9,057 students.

As the 2026/2027 school year begins, nearly 59,000 secondary students are returning to classrooms. In response to current educational needs, the regional Ministry of Education is implementing a policy to reduce student-to-teacher ratios. This measure, which has been expanded to include 3rd year ESO students, aims to foster closer interaction between teachers and students, improve the detection of learning difficulties, and enhance classroom management.