A Call to Action: Overcoming Educational Gaps in the Canary Islands
An exhaustive study by the European Parliament has revealed the educational deficiencies that plague the Canary Islands community. This report, titled ‘Cohesion Policy in the Outermost Regions’, reveals that the Canary Islands face educational levels below the national average, with worryingly low graduation rates in Vocational Training and international results below the average in various subjects.
This alarming situation is closely related to the persistent poverty that affects the Islands. The Platform for 5% for Education in the Canary Islands recognizes the seriousness of this report and supports its conclusions, which coincide with its own demands to improve the Canary Islands educational system.
The Impact of Poverty on Education
The European Parliament report highlights that the Canary Islands, together with Andalusia and Extremadura, register the highest rate of population at risk of poverty in Spain, with an alarming 28.4%. This widespread poverty has a devastating impact on education, making it difficult to access essential educational resources such as textbooks, school supplies, and tutoring.
Additionally, poverty creates an environment of stress and anxiety that can make it difficult to concentrate and learn. Children and youth living in poverty may face additional challenges, such as health problems, homelessness, and limited access to nutritious foods, which undermine their ability to reach their full educational potential.
Urgent Measures to Improve the Educational System
The EU report highlights the need to expand the workforce of professional counselors in the Canary Islands educational system. This service must be modernized so that it has a significant impact on the entire system, providing support and guidance to students in their educational journey.
The Economic and Social Council (ESC) has emphasized the importance of a strong career guidance system to meet the training needs of students, align educational options with employment trends and reduce the risk of dropping out of school.
The School Council of the Canary Islands has proposed 100 measures to improve the educational system, among which the following stand out: enhancing vocational guidance in secondary and high school centers, incorporating educational inspectors specialized in Vocational Training and providing information and support to students in the implementation of Dual Vocational Training.
Dual Training is an innovative model that combines academic training with internships in companies, providing students with valuable practical experience and improving their employability prospects.
Economic and Territorial Resources
The EU report recognizes that demographic and territorial factors, such as territorial fragmentation and population dispersion, present unique challenges for education in the Canary Islands. These factors require careful coordination and organization of economic resources, as well as investments in educational infrastructure and human resources on a larger scale than in continuous territories.
To address these gaps, it is essential that the Canary Islands increase its investment in education to at least 5% of GDP, as established by the Canary Islands Education Law. This investment would improve educational infrastructure, hire more teachers and counselors, and provide additional resources and support to students.
A Prosperous Future for the Canary Islands: Education as the Key
Investing in education is not only a moral obligation, but also a strategic investment in the future of the Canary Islands. By improving the education system, we can break the cycle of poverty and inequality, increase the employability of young people and create a fairer and more prosperous society for all.
The European Parliament report is a wake-up call, a reminder of the urgent need to address educational deficiencies in the Canary Islands. It is time for all actors involved, from policy makers to educators and families, to work together to build a strong education system that empowers Canarian students and allows them to reach their full potential.
A prosperous future for the Canary Islands depends on quality education for all. It is time to invest in our future and build a society where all children and young people have the opportunity to succeed.