Valencian Education Ministry proposes reduced class sizes for 0‑3 year olds

The Conselleria de Educación, Cultura y Universidades of the Generalitat Valenciana announced a revised proposal to lower pupil‑teacher ratios in the first cycle of early childhood education. The plan would cut the class size for children aged 0‑1 year from eight to seven students and for ages 1‑2 from thirteen to twelve, while keeping the already‑reduced 18‑student limit for ages 2‑3. The measures are slated to start in the 2027‑2028 school year and are backed by an investment of €658 million.

Director‑general of school centres Jorge Cabo warned that the new ratios “pongan en riesgo el 60 % de las plazas de 0‑3 años en la Comunitat Valenciana, lo que comprometería la gratuidad universal, la conciliación familiar y laboral”. He added that maintaining current staffing levels under the proposed limits would require a 149 % increase in teaching posts.

Escuelas Católicas, representing thousands of private early‑childhood schools, criticised the reform, estimating that more than 4,000 private centres could be jeopardised and that the cost of compliance would rise sharply. The organisation called for a dialogue with the Ministry and for an economic impact study before any regulation is enacted.