Indicator history

Organic Law 2/2006, of 3 May, on Education (LOE) takes up almost word for word this recommendation: “There will be an adequate, balanced distribution between the different schools of students who need specific educational support”. According to the law, the education administrations will regulate student admission to public and publicly-funded private schools in order to guarantee the right to education, equal conditions of access and freedom of choice for parents. When there are not sufficient places, the admission procedure will be governed by priority criteria, one of which is proximity to the
home. In allocating pupils to schools in such cases, the law specifically states that there will be no discrimination for reasons of birth, race, gender, religion, opinions or any other personal or social condition or circumstance.

Despite these positive developments, it is clear that the law is not always effective in practice and leaves scope for manipulation. ECRI has received consistent reports of “ghetto” schools of immigrant or Roma children in certain parts of the country, and discriminatory practices in the admissions procedure, enabling publicly-funded private schools to pick and choose pupils.

Item No. 63 of the Fourth Report on Spain (ECRI).