Spain’s school and university enrollment gap narrows as vocational training gains ground

In Navarra, the gross enrollment rate for the Bachillerato has fallen to 59.4%, while medium‑grade vocational training (Formación Profesional) rose to 35.5%. The difference between the two pathways narrowed from about 40 percentage points a decade ago to 24 points today, reflecting a gradual shift toward vocational studies. Despite the rise, FP’s rate remains below the national average of 37%, and the Bachillerato still attracts the majority of post‑ESO students.

National data show that by 2026 Spain expects over 1.6 million university students across 86 institutions (50 public, 36 private). Women now outnumber men, online programmes are expanding, and early dropout sits at 9.4%. Roughly half of young adults choose the labour market or vocational training instead of university, underscoring a persistent diversification of post‑secondary pathways. A gender gap persists in medium‑grade FP, with 42% of men enrolled versus 28.4% of women, a disparity that has changed little over ten years.