Pedro Sánchez defends expansion of vocational training in Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted the growing importance of Vocational Training (FP) during an event at the Escuela de Organización Industrial in Madrid. Sánchez noted that since 2018, enrollment in vocational programs has increased by 46%, exceeding 1.2 million students.

Data from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training shows that for the 2023-2024 academic year, the gross population rate of students obtaining intermediate vocational degrees reached 28.2%, while higher-level degrees reached 36.8%, both marking historic highs. In higher-level vocational training, women now represent a majority at nearly 40% compared to 35% for men.

A key challenge remains the expansion of dual vocational training, which combines classroom learning with workplace experience. While student numbers in this modality grew by 124% between 2017 and 2022, these students still represent only 4.4% of the total. Increasing business sector involvement is cited as a necessary step for further growth, as currently only 0.3% of firms participate in dual training programs.