The alarming drop in math results
The educational landscape in Catalonia continues to deteriorate, with mathematics as the latest indicator of this negative trend. Recently, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Performance revealed that Catalonia is in a precarious position compared to other regions, marking the worst results in mathematics in the last decade.
Worrying comparisons
In a recent study, fourth-grade primary school students in Catalonia scored 489 points, below the OECD average of 525 and the Spanish average of 498. Only 17% of Catalan students have advanced proficiency in mathematics, compared to 21% in the rest of Spain. The figures indicate that almost 42% of students fail in this subject, an alarming figure that had already been highlighted by previous reports such as PISA.
A systemic crisis more than a financing problem
The current situation is not a surprise, but rather a confirmation of a structural problem that has been creeping in over the years. The PISA report was a hard blow to Catalan education, highlighting shortcomings that have become a topic of social and political debate.
An educational model in question
The debate on education has intensified, with the focus on companies like Inmovamat, which offer pedagogical solutions for teaching mathematics. David Rabadà, an education expert, has expressed his concerns about their effectiveness, pointing out that efforts made for more than three decades have failed to solve school failure.
The role of funding and critical voices
After taking power, the PSC allocated 8 million euros to improve mathematics teaching. However, figures such as Alejandro Fernández have highlighted that the problem lies not only in the lack of resources, but in the lack of motivation of students to learn if they can advance without mastering mathematics.
A debate that never stops growing
Recently, teacher and historian Xavier Díez has mentioned that many teachers are leaning towards the political right, in contrast to a progressive pedagogical model that is losing strength. This has given rise to critical voices such as those of Damià Bardera and David Rabadà, which are gaining more and more relevance.
Reflections on the educational system
What is currently happening is a reflection of the constantly evolving social dynamics in Catalonia. Educational outcomes are an indicator of the difficulties in managing cultural diversity, ideological polarization and inequalities between social classes. The current situation forces us to rethink what educational model we want for the future and how we can address these challenges.
