Spanish education constitution | Madrid | Catalunya | Balearic Islands | Canary Islands | Levante | Andalucia | other cities

Article 27 of the Spanish Constitution 1978 reads:

• Everyone is entitled to education. freedom of instruction is recognised.
  
  
• Education shall have as its objective the full development of the human character compatible with respect for the democratic principles of co-existence and for the basic rights and freedoms.
  
  
• The public authorities guarantee the right of the parents to ensure that their children receive religious and moral instruction that is in accordance with their own convictions.
  
  
• Elementary education is compulsory and free.
  
  
• The public authorities guarantee the right of everyone to education, through general planning of education, with the effective participation of all parties concerned and the setting up of teaching establishments.
  
  
• The rights of individuals and legal entities to set up teaching establishments is recognised, provided they respect constitutional principles.
  
  
• Teachers , parents and, when appropriate, pupils shall share in the control and management of all the centres maintained by the Administration out of public funds, under the terms to be laid down by the law.
  
  
• The public authorities shall inspect and standardize the educational system in order to guarantee compliance with the law.
  
  
• The pubic authorities shall give aid to teaching establishments which meet the requirements to be laid down by the law.
  
  
• The autonomy of the Universities is recognised, under the terms to be laid down by the law.

The Spanish Educational System

The Educational Law of 1990, the Ley Organica de Ordenacion General del Sistema Educativo (LOGSE) (Law on the the General Organisation of the Educational System), established a new system which started in 1991-1992 school year. The main points are as follows:

• Basic education is compulsory and free of charge, and is extended up to the age of 16, the legal age for starting work.
  
  
• The educational system includes general and special education, i.e. the different levels of education are adapted to suit students with special needs.
  
  
• All students have basic vocational training, which is given in secondary education. Specific vocational training is organised at two levels, the first at the end of compulsory secondary education, and the higher level at the end of the Baccalaureate.
  
  
• improvement in the quality of teaching must be achieved via the renewal of the contents of the courses, improvement in human resources and material resources, and better use of the various instruments of the educational system.
  
  
• Religious Instruction must be available at all schools, but it is voluntary for pupils.
  
  
• Special systems are applied for artistic education and language learning.
  

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